Composition

Use in the book

The habit fragment records necessity without explaining it. The production note locates a beginning in an incompletely unfolded germ of movement, point of emotion or principle of idea. The first-fire image likewise describes the mind initially operating on phantoms raised from its own vapors, before any claim about finished form. Two contrary wishes then cause trouble: omitting what is necessary and employing what is useless. The Aristotle passage distinguishes guidance from creation. Logic can direct composition, but its rule should not remain visibly embedded in the finished work, any more than a compass remains in a circle or a level in a wall. The exception concerns making instruments themselves, where a standard visibly guides the production of another standard.

Places to read

1. I, p. 342, entry 7, ¶1Habit is named as necessary without further exposition.
2. I, p. 412, entry 3, ¶1An incomplete germ or principle starts production.
3. I, p. 428, entry 9, ¶1Necessary omission and useless inclusion are paired faults.
4. II, p. 495, entry 4, ¶1The first fire produces phantoms for the mind to work upon.
5. II, p. 782, entry 5, ¶1The rule guides making but should disappear from its product.

Translation in this edition

The English translation preserves composition beside production or texture where paired. In the final witness, the conditional “would find” and unidentified they remain; [uses] represents the source editor’s supplied [sert]. The general never-except condition is not weakened into an optional stylistic preference.