Pal.lat.984

...of this table. In this table, we must place an alphabet based upon general principles, rules, and questions; this indeed contains an artificial alphabet In Llull's system, an "artificial alphabet" is a set of letters (B through K) used as shorthand for complex philosophical and theological concepts, allowing them to be combined like mathematical symbols..

Where:
b. signifies goodness, the first divine principle, the first rule, and the first question.
c. signifies greatness, concordance, the second rule, and the second question.
d. signifies eternity (or duration), contrariety, the third rule, and the third question.
e. signifies power, the beginning, the fourth rule, and the fourth question.
f. signifies wisdom, the middle, the fifth rule, and the fifth question.
g. signifies will, the end, the sixth rule, and the sixth question.
h. signifies virtue, majority, the seventh rule, and the seventh question.
i. signifies truth, equality, the eighth rule, and the eighth question.
k. signifies glory, minority, the ninth rule, and the ninth question, and also the tenth rule and tenth question.

The reason why this science was invented can be seen immediately: so that God may be greatly remembered, understood, and loved by other people, and so that the errors and schisms Refers to the religious and philosophical disagreements Llull hoped to resolve through logical proof. that reign in this world might be destroyed, and so that the public good may be exalted above private interest.

Likewise, this science was invented secondarily so that through it, particular things which are unknown to the intellect might be investigated and known by that same intellect, since science exists concerning general things and not special ones.

Furthermore, this science is "general" because within it are joined the general principles, rules, and questions—namely, the universal principle [found] in every other, just as special things [are contained] in the mind itself. These appear as far as they can through affirming or denying, in such a way that through such a general mixture being made, there may be a concordant determination of the question. This is done either affirmatively or negatively, always preserving the principles of this science and their definitions through the rules, questions, and their natures.

Next follows the division of this [work]:

This table is divided into five sections, reasons, or distinctions. Furthermore:
1. The first is about the figures.
2. The second is about the definitions of the principles.
3. The third is about the rules.
4. The fourth is about the table of this art.
5. The fifth and last is about the questions.

Next follows the first figure, which is concerning "A".

The first distinction is divided into four figures. First, one must treat the first figure, which is designated by "A". This figure is circular and exists for the sake of the memory original: "m." — likely memoriam, because it is composed of the nine aforementioned general principles, according as it...