A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive Being a Connected View of the Principles of Evidence, and the Methods of Scientific Investigation

This two-volume work, first published in 1843, was John Stuart Mill's first major book. It reinvented the modern study of logic and laid the foundations for his later work in the areas of political economy, women's rights and representative government. In clear, systematic prose, Mill (1806–73) disentangles syllogistic logic from its origins in Aristotle and scholasticism and grounds it instead in processes of inductive reasoning. An important attempt at integrating empiricism within a more general theory of human knowledge, the work constitutes essential reading for anyone seeking a full understanding of Mill's thought. Volume 1 contains Mill's introduction, which elaborates upon his definition of logic as 'not the science of Belief, but the science of Proof, or Evidence'. It also features discussions of the central components of logical reasoning - propositions and syllogisms - in relation to Mill's theories of inductive reasoning and experimental method.

Preface; Introduction; Book I. Of Names and Propositions: 1. Of the necessity of commencing with an analysis of language; 2. Of names; 3. Of the things denoted by names; 4. Of propositions; 5. Of the import of propositions; 6. Of propositions merely verbal; 7. Of the nature of classification, and the five predicables; 8. Of definition; Book II. Of Reasoning: 1. Of inference, or reasoning, in general; 2. Of ratiocination, or syllogism; 3. Of the functions, and logical value, of the syllogism; 4. Of trains of reasoning, and deductive sciences; 5. Of demonstration, and necessary truths; 6. The same subject continued; Book III. Of Induction: 1. Preliminary observations on induction in general; 2. Of inductions improperly so called; 3. On the ground of induction; 4. Of laws of nature; 5. Of the law of universal causation; 6. Of the composition of causes; 7. Of observation and experiment; 8. Of the four methods of experimental inquiry; 9. Miscellaneous examples of the four methods; 10. Of plurality of causes; and of the intermixture of effects; 11. Of the deductive method; 12. Of the explanation of laws of nature; 13. Miscellaneous examples of the explanation of laws of nature.

In this two-volume work of 1843, John Stuart Mill (1806-73) establishes the principles of inductive reasoning and experimental method that inform his later works of political and social philosophy. Volume 1 features his introduction, outlining the science of logic, and discussion of syllogisms and induction.