The Art of Medicine

Furthermore, the ends of these arts sometimes have a single series of those things into which they are resolved. For example, the knowledge of truth is the end of logical contemplation, which must be resolved thus: Since truth is produced by demonstration, it cannot be had without demonstration. But you will not know demonstration—because it is a syllogism—except by having known the syllogism simply. Furthermore, you will not know a syllogism—inasmuch as it is composed of propositions—before the knowledge of these. Again, because propositions are not discussed without simple terms, the force and power of simple terms must be learned first, as they are composed from those. The end of logical commentary—that is, the knowledge of truth—is therefore first resolved into demonstration; afterwards, demonstration into the syllogism; this into propositions; and these, indeed, into simple terms. And it does not proceed further beyond that which constitutes the logical doctrine through the resolution of its end. For nothing remains into which its end could be resolved.

Sometimes, however, an established end is resolved through several and diverse orders: which we shall reveal to the exercise of students by an example. Let peace, therefore, be the established end. It must be sought either through victory or friendship. Victory [is sought] through war; war, through the supplies of soldiers; soldiers, through money; but money is either already at hand, or