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Essay Towards an Easy and Useful System of Logic

Robert Blakey

I have ventured to offer this small work to the public with the view of accomplishing two objects; first, to endeavour to impress upon the reader's attention the constituted differences of evidence which exist in the various departments of human knowledge, to which the higher kinds of reasoning are applied; and, secondly, to avoid as much as possible those crabbed and technical words and phrases, so profusely scattered over most of our elementary as well as popular treatises on Logic.

The first object, that of pointing out the differences in the evidence on which various subjects rest, must be allowed by all to be an important one. Many errors in judgment, in matters of great interest to mankind, take their rise from vague and incorrect notions as to the nature of the subjects which come under the mind's contemplation. And in regard to the constant use of antiquated terms, in works which professedly aim at the strengthening and guiding of the understanding, we are fairly entitled to conclude that such terms ought to be limited to the smallest possible number, to prevent a gloomy and mysterious air being given to that, which, in other respects, might be considered as both pleasant and perspicuous.

I have avoided, as far as possible, all controversial matter. When a subject on which there still exists a diversity of opinion has crossed the path of my inquiries, I have unqualifiedly adopted the principles of one party; not with the most distant idea of pronouncing a dogmatical verdict on the question at issue, but solely from the wish to prevent the reader's attention from being drawn to topics which have only a remote connexion with the general principles of reasoning. - Summary by Preface