Preface.

—gage with either the sciences sciences: German "Wissenschaften." In the 18th century, this term referred to any systematic body of knowledge grounded in firm principles, encompassing what we now call the humanities and social sciences as well as the natural sciences. or with the duties of human life. Beyond this, I have also endeavored to accept nothing without proof; proof: German "Beweis." In Wolff's rationalist system, a proof is a rigorous logical demonstration that shows why something must be true based on prior established certainties. for everything I have asserted is either grounded in clear experiences experiences: German "Erfahrungen." This refers to information gathered through the senses and empirical observation. or proven through sound conclusions. conclusions: German "Schlüsse." Also translated as inferences or syllogisms; the logical steps through which one truth is derived from others. That which is grounded in experience can be examined according to the rules of experience, which I have provided in the fifth chapter of the Thoughts on the Powers of the Human Understanding; Wolff is referring to his earlier work on logic, commonly known as the "German Logic" (1712), where he established the methodology for empirical and rational inquiry. thus, one will hopefully find nothing questionable therein. If one wishes to properly arrange the proofs into the logical conclusions of which they consist, one will find that nothing has been assumed which has not already previously received its confirmation of correctness. correctness: German "Richtigkeit." This denotes both the logical validity of an argument and its factual accuracy. Even he who looks upon the proofs only superficially, will...