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Secrets of the Art
Revealed
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2. perfect, sure and infallible
Two, this
Art is Perfectly Certain and Infallible
The reason
is that the principles of this Art are largely
self-evident, they are really the things that sense and
intellect experience most directly, where sense reaches
to the lowest degree below which there is no further
descent; and intellect reaches to the topmost degree
above which there is no further ascent; the principles of
this Art consist of primordial, supreme, essential,
substantial and real truths: "and those that may not
be self-evident to all, can be demonstrated with Figure T
by seeking out particulars in the universality of any
principle that needs to be proved: thus, there is no use
discussing with anyone who denies the self-evident
principles of this Art; but if someone denies those that
are not self-evident, they can be proved to him
with the method of this Art. (Comm.Art.Dem. Dist.2. p.2.
reg.26. f.85)
Further, it
is perfectly certain and infallible because of the modus
operandi it applies to principles; now, each and every
camera of this Art is in itself an infallible principle
and rule. (Introd. Art. Dem. Cap. 22. fol. 12.) And given
that a modus operandi is simply "a regulated
practical order based on necessary principles, used as a
compendious way and means for accomplishing one's
purpose" (Ars.Inv. Dist.3. deReg. f.37.), even as
the principles are infallible because of their necessity,
likewise, the rule for operating with the
principles, on account of its necessity that arises from
the necessity of the principles, is also infallible, as
will be more amply proved below in the chapter on the
Secret of the Modus Operandi. Further, "since all
the triangles of T and the other universal terms of this
Art can be found simply, and according to their universal
combinations, in the subjects of all Sciences and Arts,
all Sciences and Arts are mutually concordant in one
purpose and all constitute a single subject for this
universal Science, namely this Art - this most profound
secret escaped the notice of those who tried to reform my
Art - and given that the common and universal principles
of this Art are found both simply and in mutual
combination, they necessarily proceed from each one's
ultimate particulars all the way to its supreme
universal, and thus, with the power of this Art, its
conditions and conclusions proceed infallibly in all
Sciences and Arts: the only fallibility can come from the
operator's inexperience, and not from any defect of this
Science, (Com. Art. Dem. Dist. 3. de q. Y n. 2. f. 127.)
in the same way that the principles and modus operandi of
Arithmetic and Geometry are infallible and any
fallibility in their operations can only be attributed to
the operator "To many of those who have not seen
these principles, certain tenets of particular Sciences
seem to be merely probable, and this Art can demonstrate
that they are necessary." (Ibid. Dist. 2. pag.2. de
reg. fol. 81)
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