[(3) Divisions of philosophy.]
Nor is it otherwise than in harmony herewith that logic did not receive
a fuller or more perfect treatment in the further development of their
system. Even the study of nature, going far more fully into particulars
than logic, was guided entirely by practical considerations, all
scientific interest in nature being ignored. Following the usual
method, however, the Epicureans divided philosophy into three parts
[1119]—logic, natural science, and moral science. Limiting the first of
these parts to one branch of logic, the part which deals with the
characteristics of truth, and which they therefore called neither
logic, nor dialectic, but Canonic, they really reduced this part to a
mere introductory appendage to the two other parts, [1120] and studied
Canonic as a part of natural science. [1121] Natural science moreover
was so entirely subordinated to moral science, that we might almost
feel tempted to follow some modern writers [1122] in their view of the
Epicurean system, by giving to moral science precedence of the two
other parts, or at least of natural science. [1123] The School,
however, followed the usual order, and not without reason; [1124] for
although the whole tendency of the Epicurean Canonic and natural
science can only, like the Stoic, be explained by a reference to moral
science, yet moral science with them presupposes the test-science of
truth and natural science. We shall, therefore, do well to treat of
Canonic in the first place, and subsequently to prove how this branch
of study depends on Ethics.
[B. Canonic or the test-science of truth.]
[(1) Sensation and perception.]
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