General Cosmology

...no world can be conceived, they can be abstracted (§ 237. Ontology): cosmological dogmas:

Those things which are demonstrated in general Cosmology regarding the world in general—derived from the principles of first philosophy philosophia prima original: "ex principiis philosophiae primae"; Wolff uses this term interchangeably with Ontology, the study of the most basic nature of things. (by virtue of § 2)—can be confirmed through observations.

It is thus clear how the examinations of cosmological truths are established. By these, we are made certain that we have properly established our principles in first philosophy and have legitimately applied them in Cosmology. For this reason, we will be able to trust our principles with all the more security as their agreement with observations is more clearly perceived; therefore, we will not be reluctant to point out this agreement here and there.

§. 4.

The difference between scientific and experimental Cosmology.

There is, therefore, a twofold Cosmology: one is scientific, the other is experimental Cosmology. General scientific Cosmology is that which demonstrates the general theory of the world from the principles of Ontology. Conversely, experimental [Cosmology] is that which elicits the theory established (or to be established) in the scientific branch from observations.

The definition we provided (§ 1) fits scientific Cosmology, by virtue of the conclusions deduced from it (§ 2). The foundation of the experimental branch is contained in the preceding article (§ 3). It is the scientific branch that we are treating in this place, although for the sake of illustrating and confirming these dogmas, we will occasionally bring in matters that belong to the experimental. For it is our purpose throughout this entire system of philosophy to confirm a posteriori original: "a posteriori"; knowledge derived from experience or observation rather than pure reason. those dogmas established a priori original: "a priori"; knowledge derived from theoretical deduction or first principles independently of experience.—especially the fundamental notions from which the rest are drawn—so that their agreement with the truth may appear more clearly. This is so that no one need fear that we might be inferring things abhorrent to the truth from improperly established principles, since error can easily creep into a scientific treatment. By this very effort, we shall achieve two things: namely, we will be rendered continually more certain of the truth of preceding points by those that follow, and even those who are not yet sufficiently practiced in weighing chained demonstrations Wolff refers to "concatenated" proofs where one truth is linked to the next like a chain. may grant their assent to our principles without hesitation. Since it is our goal to make philosophy both certain and useful, nothing at all should be omitted that pertains to its certainty in any way, lest the suspicion of uncertainty harm its utility. For utility shines forth from the application of principles to obvious cases; yet, those things which are thought to be uncertain are usually neglected.