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Cover of Collected Works of John Stuart Mill

Collected Works of John Stuart Mill

Edited by John M. Robson

  • Published: 1981
  • DOI: 10.4324/9780415480581
  • Set ISBN: 9780415480581

Set Contents

A System of Logic Ratiocinative and Inductive Being a Connected View of the Principles of Evidence and the Methods of Scientific Investigation Books I-III


§ 1. [A definition at the commencement of a subject must be provisional] There is as great diversity among authors in the modes which they have adopted of defining logic, as in their treatment of the details of it. This is what might naturally be expected on any subject on which writers have availed themselves of the same language as a means of delivering different ideas. Ethics and jurisprudence are liable to the remark in common with logic. Almost every writer having taken a different view of some of the particulars which these branches of knowledge are usually understood to include; each has so framed his definition as to indicate beforehand his own peculiar tenets, and sometimes to beg the question in their favour.

Volume Contents

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    Front Matter
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    Introduction By R. F. McRae
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    Textual Introduction By John M. Robson
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    Preface: [To all editions]
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    Introduction
  • Of Names and Propositions
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      Prelims
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      I
      Of the Necessity of Commencing with an Analysis of Language
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      II
      Of Names
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      III
      Of the Things Denoted by Names
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      IV
      Of Propositions
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      V
      Of the Import of Propositions
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      VI
      Of Propositions Merely Verbal
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      VII
      Of the Nature of Classification, and the Five Predicables
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      VIII
      Of Definition
  • Of Reasoning
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      Prelims
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      I
      Of Inference, or Reasoning, in General
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      II
      Of Ratiocination, or Syllogism
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      III
      Of the Functions and Logical Value of the Syllogism
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      IV
      Of Trains of Reasoning, and Deductive Sciences
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      V
      Of Demonstration, and Necessary Truths
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      VI
      The Same Subject Continued
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      VII
      Examination of Some Opinions Opposed to the Preceding Doctrines
  • Of Induction
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      Prelims
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      I
      Preliminary Observations on Induction in General
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      II
      Of Inductions Improperly So Called
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      III
      Of the Ground of Induction
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      IV
      Of Laws of Nature
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      V
      Of the Law of Universal Causation
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      VI
      a On the Composition of Causes
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      VII
      Of Observation and Experiment
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      VIII
      Of the Four Methods of Experimental Inquiry
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      IX
      Miscellaneous Examples of the Four Methods
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      X
      Of Plurality of Causes; and of the Intermixture of Effects
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      XI
      Of the Deductive Method
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      XII
      Of the Explanation of Laws of Nature
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      XIII
      Miscellaneous Examples of the Explanation of Laws of Nature
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      XIV
      a Of the Limits to the Explanation of Laws of Nature; and of Hypotheses
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      XV
      Of Progressive Effects; and of the Continued Action of Causes
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      XVI
      Of Empirical Laws
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      XVII
      Of Chance and Its Elimination
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      XVIII
      Of the Calculation of Chances
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      XIX
      a Of the Extension of Derivative Laws to Adjacent Cases
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      XX
      Of Analogy
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      XXI
      Of the Evidence of the Law of Universal Causation
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      XXII
      Of Uniformities of Coexistence not Dependent on Causation
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      XXIII
      Of Approximate Generalizations, and Probable Evidence
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      XXIV
      Of the Remaining Laws of Nature
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      XXV
      Of the Grounds of Disbelief