Thus, if A had
to be proved to inhere in D, and the middles were B and C, B being the
higher term would render the demonstration which it mediated the
more universal.
Some of these arguments, however, are dialectical. The clearest
indication of the precedence of commensurately universal demonstration
is as follows: if of two propositions, a prior and a posterior, we
have a grasp of the prior, we have a kind of knowledge-a potential
grasp-of the posterior as well. For example, if one knows that the
angles of all triangles are equal to two right angles, one knows in
a sense-potentially-that the isosceles' angles also are equal to two
right angles, even if one does not know that the isosceles is a
triangle; but to grasp this posterior proposition is by no means to
know the commensurate universal either potentially or actually.
Moreover, commensurately universal demonstration is through and
through intelligible; particular demonstration issues in
sense-perception.
25
The preceding arguments constitute our defence of the superiority of
commensurately universal to particular demonstration. That affirmative
demonstration excels negative may be shown as follows.
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