Subject to names is whatsoever can enter into or be considered in an account,and be added one to another to make a sum,or subtracted one from another and leave a remainder.The Latins called accounts of money rationes,and accounting,ratiocinatio:and that which we in bills or books of account call items,they called nomina;that is,names:and thence it seems to proceed that they extended the word ratio to the faculty of reckoning in all other things.The Greeks have but one word,logos,for both speech and reason;not that they thought there was no speech without reason,but no reasoning without speech;and the act of reasoning they called syllogism;which signifieth summing up of the consequences of one saying to another.
And because the same things may enter into account for diverse accidents,their names are (to show that diversity)diversely wrested and diversified.This diversity of names may be reduced to four general heads.
First,a thing may enter into account for matter,or body;as living,sensible,rational,hot,cold,moved,quiet;with all which names the word matter,or body,is understood;all such being names of matter.
Secondly,it may enter into account,or be considered,for some accident or quality which we conceive to be in it;as for being moved,for being so long,for being hot,etc.;and then,of the name of the thing itself,by a little change or wresting,we make a name for that accident which we consider;and for living put into the account life;for moved,motion;for hot,heat;for long,length,and the like:and all such names are the names of the accidents and properties by which one matter and body is distinguished from another.These are called names abstract,because severed,not from matter,but from the account of matter.
Thirdly,we bring into account the properties of our own bodies,whereby we make such distinction:as when anything is seen by us,we reckon not the thing itself,but the sight,the colour,the idea of it in the fancy;and when anything is heard,we reckon it not,but the hearing or sound only,which is our fancy or conception of it by the ear:and such are names of fancies.
Fourthly,we bring into account,consider,and give names,to names themselves,and to speeches:for,general,universal,special,equivocal,are names of names.And affirmation,interrogation,commandment,narration,syllogism,sermon,oration,and many other such are names of speeches.And this is all the variety of names positive;which are put to mark somewhat which is in nature,or may be feigned by the mind of man,as bodies that are,or may be conceived to be;or of bodies,the properties that are,or may be feigned to be;or words and speech.
There be also other names,called negative;which are notes to signify that a word is not the name of the thing in question;as these words:nothing,no man,infinite,indocible,three want four,and the like;which are nevertheless of use in reckoning,or in correcting of reckoning,and call to mind our past cogitations,though they be not names of anything;because they make us refuse to admit of names not rightly used.
