| Summary: | "The professed object of Logick is to furnish rules for the direction of the understanding in its various inquiries after knowledge. It should therefore teach the principles of every species of reasoning, which we have occasion to make use of, both in the pursuits of science, and in the ordinary transactions of life. Demonstrative reasoning can he employed only about general truths, and such relations, as are in their nature immutable. It is of little use in regulating our judgments and conclusions concerning events, which are irregular in their occurrence, and which depend on contingent circumstances. To reason on subjects of this kind, it is necessary to understand the nature of moral evidence, and the grounds of probability. It is by moral evidence alone, that we reason on historical facts, and the casual occurrences of life. It is also this evidence, which influences our conclusions on the important and interesting subjects of government, morals, and religion"--Introduction. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved).
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