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INSTITUTES OF METAPHYSIC.
Further explanations as to how philosophy goes to work.§ 48. The propositions and their demonstrations constitute the text or staple of the book. These are the "Institutes of Metaphysic." The first proposition only is laid down as axiomatic without any demonstration. Each proposition is followed by a series of observations and explanations, which are designed to clear up any obscurities and to remove any difficulties which may be felt to attach to the main propositions of the work, whether in thought or in expression, and to supply such critical and historical notices as may be deemed expedient. These comments are, of course, of a less rigorous character than the Institutes themselves. They are probably not so complete as they might be; but, in general, it will be found that they indicate with sufficient precision the points where the larger and often where the lesser controversies of philosophy take off from the tap-root or main stem. The counter-propositions could not always, or indeed often, be placed in close juxtaposition with the propositions, for various good reasons. They take their places among the observations and explanations, and by them they are cleared up, in so far as any elucidation is thought necessary. It will be observed that the counter-propositions, occupying at each point an antagonist position to the propositions, form a very consistent scheme of apparent truth. The objection to it is, that it contradicts a necessary truth or principle of reason at every
