Southern District of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 14th day of May, A. D 182, in the 52d year of the Independence of the United States of America, G. & C. Carvill, of the said District, have deposited in this office the title of a book, the right whereof they claim as proprietors in the words following, to wit: "The Philosophy of Human Knowledge, or a Treatise on Language. Course of Lectures, delivered before the Utica Lyceum, by Alexander Johnson."

A

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the time therein mentioned." And also to an Act, entitled "an Act, supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act, for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints." F. J. BETTS.

Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

mises, he will so explain the premises as to show that they do embrace his conclusions.Proofs and arguments have no efficacy bat to show that the premises admit the conclusion. ›

LECTURE VII..................

.121

Of the necessities of language.—When we say the whole of an orange is greater than a part, the necessity of admitting the conclusion is founded on our experience. LECTURE VIIL..... ...128 The necessities of language continued.—When propositions have thus obtained an authoritative character, we apply them where there are no corresponding phenomena: this is one of the most subtle delusions to which language exposes us.

LECTURE IX.....

..145

The necessities of language concluded.-In such applica-
tions, the necessity of admitting the conclusions is
merely verbal, and therefore fallacious.-This error
enters deeply into nearly all our learning.

.....159

LECTURE X.
Theorists are solicitous about names and definitions, be-
cause speculations are often verbal deductions from
names. The error of this process is, that words have
as many significations as they have applications to dif-
ferent phenomena: consequently, though the assertion
is true (when applied to an artificial sphere) that no
part of the circumference is a straight line; yet the as-
sertion is sophistical when the word sphere is applied
to the earth; because sphere has then a different signi-
fication. If we employ language to simply refer to
phenomena, no serious evil can arise from the terms we
adopt; bnt if we select words to draw from them logi-
cal deductions, the slightest change of phraseology may
produce in philosophy revolutions which no man can
foresee.

ut on objects produced by art.

LECT

The animals which stitute his food are unknown to nature, while trees, s, and herbs are the trophies of his labour. His virlanguage, actions, sentiments, and desires are nearactitious. Stupendous in achievement, he is boundattempts. Having subdued the surface of the would explore its centre; having vanquished would subdue death. Unsatisfied with reishably the past, he would anticipate the ented with subjugating the ocean, he Success seems but to sharpen lity augments his impatience.— tant to know the extent of our sipate strength in designs for d; or attempt practicabiThis knowledge is the

air.

ed for our curi

There

tion,

mises, he will so explain the premises as to show that they do embrace his conclusions.Proofs and arguments have no efficacy but to show that the promise admit the conclusion.

LECTURE VII................

Of the necessities of language.-When we say the

of an orange is greater than a part, the necessit mitting the conclusion is founded on our exp LECTURE VIII..........

The necessities of language continued.—Y
tions have thus obtained an authoritas
apply them where there are no cor
na: this is one of the most s
language exposes❜us.

LECTURE IX................

Pag

strong inclination for has diminished my cond the ardour which, at my The necessities of langupolitical discussions ;-vocifetions, the necessignts not invaded, and vindictive merely verbals not inflicted. It has driven mo enters deep of the counting-house, and the war of es, to an unambitious avocation; which, whilst Is the conveniences that our plainness renders es

LECTUP

al, enables me to gratify my unenviable propensity. Among the results is a Treatise on the Philosophy of Human Knowledge. From the obscurity in which my life has passed, I have reason to suspect an absence, rather than the possession, of instructive talents: hence the Treatise has long lain unregarded, and, till within a few days, undivulged. An accidental intimation of its existence, has produced from the Lyceum a request with which I shall endeavour to comply, by moulding the Treatise into short and occasional lectures.

Man exists in a world of his own creation. He cannot step, but on ground transformed by culture; nor look,