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OTHER FORMS AND MEANS OF KNOWLEDGE.
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the Subject by itself, nor the character by itself; and until the Probans is definitely known as having the same character and as appertaining to the same Subject,--the Inference cannot proceed. That is to say, until the presence of the Probans in the Subject is definitely cognised with certainty, there can be no Inference ".-(1489-1491)
Question-Why cannot this condition of the definite cognition of the Probans in the Subject be fulfilled in the case in question ?
Answer: -
TEXT (1492). " IN THE CASE IN QUESTION (I.E. IN VERBAL COGNITION) THAT WHICH WOULD BE REGARDED AS THE Subject FORMS THE object cognised ITSELF ; AND UNLESS THIS IS COGNISED, THERE CAN BE NO IDEA OF ANY CHARACTER (PROBANS) BE
LONGING TO IT."-(1492)
COMMENTARY.
“In the case of Verbal Cognition, anything, in the shape of the Tree and such things that may be assumed to be the subject, -forms the object cognised itself; as that is what is expressed by the word. That is to say, in this case, the Subject itself--and not the Subject as qualified by the Probandum,is the object cognised ; and so long as the said Subject has not been definitely cognised, how can there be any definite cognition of any character as belonging to it?"-(1492)
TEXT (1493).
"AND IF THE SUBJECT HAS ALREADY BEEN COGNISED, PRIOR TO THE RECOGNITION OF THE PROBANS IN THE SUBJECT (I.E. THE MINOR
PREMISS)-THEN WHAT IS THE USE OF KNOWING THAT THE PROBANS SUBSISTS IN IT AND SO FORTH, BY VIRTUE OF WHICH THE COGNITION COULD BE
REGARDED AS Inference ? "-(1493)
COMMENTARY. "Then again, if the Subject has been cognised before the recognition of the Minor Premiss, then all attempt to obtain the recognition of this latter would be futile; because the purpose of the whole attempt is to secure the cognition of the Subject; hence, if that has been cognised, what would be the use in trying to know of the presence of the Probans in the Subject ?"