Taylor - Theoretic Arithmetic.pdf - Platonic Philosophy

INTRODUCTION
tradition, however, of philosophical, logical, political, and
physical theorems, is similar to initiation. But Plato denominates
the occupation about intelligibles, true beings, and ideas,
epopteia or inspection. And the ability from what has been
learnt of leading others to the same theory, must be considered
as analogous to binding the head, and being crowned. But the
fifth and most perfect thing, is the felicity produced from
these, and according to Plato, an assimilation as much as possible
to God."
Such then is the utility arising from the proper study of the
mathematical sciences, among which theoretic arithmetic, as is
shown in the first chapter of this work, is preeminent, and the
leader of the rest. I trust, therefore, that the liberal part of
my readers, and whose views are consequently neither directed
to the gratification of appetite, nor an immoderate accumulation
of wealth, will gratefully accept the present work, as
another disinterested effort of a man who has laboured beyond
any other in modern times to benefit his countrymen, by the
dissemination of the most exalted knowledge; though he has
received nothing in return from the literary censors of the age,
but gross misrepresentation and virulent abuse, whatever the
hatred of envy could administer to the purposes of detraction,
or the cunning of malignant sophistry could pervert. But as he
has elsewhere observed, he consoles himself amidst all the defamation
which he has received, or may yet experience, with
the consciousness of the integrity of his intention, and with the
firm hope that at all times what he has written for the benefit
of others will meet with the approbation of the wise and good.
For he perfectly accords with Seneca, "that if a man wishes
to be happy, he should first consider that he must despize and
be despised."*-In particular he trusts this work will be the
means of benefiting two young gentlemen of this country,
Si vis bums nsc, cogita hoc primurn contemnerr a contemni.