ChapterIX
OfPerception1。Perceptionthefirstsimpleideaofreflection。PERCEPTION,asitisthefirstfacultyofthemindexercisedaboutourideas;soitisthefirstandsimplestideawehavefromreflection,andisbysomecalledthinkingingeneral。Thoughthinking,intheproprietyoftheEnglishtongue,signifiesthatsortofoperationinthemindaboutitsideas,whereinthemindisactive;whereit,withsomedegreeofvoluntaryattention,considersanything。Forinbarenakedperception,themindis,forthemostpart,onlypassive;andwhatitperceives,itcannotavoidperceiving。
2。Reflectionalonecangiveustheideaofwhatperceptionis。Whatperceptionis,everyonewillknowbetterbyreflectingonwhathedoeshimself,whenhesees,hears,feels,&c。,orthinks,thanbyanydiscourseofmine。Whoeverreflectsonwhatpassesinhisownmindcannotmissit。Andifhedoesnotreflect,allthewordsintheworldcannotmakehimhaveanynotionofit。
3。Arisesinsensationonlywhenthemindnoticestheorganicimpression。Thisiscertain,thatwhateveralterationsaremadeinthebody,iftheyreachnotthemind;whateverimpressionsaremadeontheoutwardparts,iftheyarenottakennoticeofwithin,thereisnoperception。Firemayburnourbodieswithnoothereffectthanitdoesabillet,unlessthemotionbecontinuedtothebrain,andtherethesenseofheat,orideaofpain,beproducedinthemind;whereinconsistsactualperception。
4。Impulseontheorganinsufficient。Howoftenmayamanobserveinhimself,thatwhilsthismindisintentlyemployedinthecontemplationofsomeobjects,andcuriouslysurveyingsomeideasthatarethere,ittakesnonoticeofimpressionsofsoundingbodiesmadeupontheorganofhearing,withthesamealterationthatusestobefortheproducingtheideaofsound?Asufficientimpulsetheremaybeontheorgan;butitnotreachingtheobservationofthemind,therefollowsnoperception:andthoughthemotionthatusestoproducetheideaofsoundbemadeintheear,yetnosoundisheard。Wantofsensation,inthiscase,isnotthroughanydefectintheorgan,orthattheman’searsarelessaffectedthanatothertimeswhenhedoeshear:butthatwhichusestoproducetheidea,thoughconveyedinbytheusualorgan,notbeingtakennoticeofintheunderstanding,andsoimprintingnoideainthemind,therefollowsnosensation。Sothatwhereverthereissenseorperception,theresomeideaisactuallyproduced,andpresentintheunderstanding。
5。Children,thoughtheymayhaveideasinthewomb,havenoneinnate。ThereforeIdoubtnotbutchildren,bytheexerciseoftheirsensesaboutobjectsthataffecttheminthewomb,receivesomefewideasbeforetheyareborn,astheunavoidableeffects,eitherofthebodiesthatenvironthem,orelseofthosewantsordiseasestheysuffer;amongstwhich(ifonemayconjectureconcerningthingsnotverycapableofexamination)Ithinktheideasofhungerandwarmtharetwo:whichprobablyaresomeofthefirstthatchildrenhave,andwhichtheyscarceeverpartwithagain。
6。Theeffectsofsensationinthewomb。Butthoughitbereasonabletoimaginethatchildrenreceivesomeideasbeforetheycomeintotheworld,yetthesesimpleideasarefarfromthoseinnateprincipleswhichsomecontendfor,andwe,above,haverejected。Theseherementioned,beingtheeffectsofsensation,areonlyfromsomeaffectionsofthebody,whichhappentothemthere,andsodependonsomethingexteriortothemind;nootherwisedifferingintheirmannerofproductionfromotherideasderivedfromsense,butonlyintheprecedencyoftime。Whereasthoseinnateprinciplesaresupposedtobequiteofanothernature;notcomingintothemindbyanyaccidentalalterationsin,oroperationsonthebody;but,asitwere,originalcharactersimpresseduponit,intheveryfirstmomentofitsbeingandconstitution。
7。Whichideasappearfirst,isnotevident,norimportant。Astherearesomeideaswhichwemayreasonablysupposemaybeintroducedintothemindsofchildreninthewomb,subservienttothenecessitiesoftheirlifeandbeingthere:so,aftertheyareborn,thoseideasaretheearliestimprintedwhichhappentobethesensiblequalitieswhichfirstoccurtothem;amongstwhichlightisnottheleastconsiderable,noroftheweakestefficacy。Andhowcovetousthemindistobefurnishedwithallsuchideasashavenopainaccompanyingthem,maybealittleguessedbywhatisobservableinchildrennew-born;whoalwaysturntheireyestothatpartfromwhencethelightcomes,laythemhowyouplease。Buttheideasthataremostfamiliaratfirst,beingvariousaccordingtothediverscircumstancesofchildren’sfirstentertainmentintheworld,theorderwhereintheseveralideascomeatfirstintothemindisveryvarious,anduncertainalso;neitherisitmuchmaterialtoknowit。
8。Sensationsoftenchangedbythejudgment。Wearefurthertoconsiderconcerningperception,thattheideaswereceivebysensationareoften,ingrownpeople,alteredbythejudgment,withoutourtakingnoticeofit。Whenwesetbeforeoureyesaroundglobeofanyuniformcolour,v。g。gold,alabaster,orjet,itiscertainthattheideatherebyimprintedonourmindisofaflatcircle,variouslyshadowed,withseveraldegreesoflightandbrightnesscomingtooureyes。Butwehaving,byuse,beenaccustomedtoperceivewhatkindofappearanceconvexbodiesarewonttomakeinus;whatalterationsaremadeinthereflectionsoflightbythedifferenceofthesensiblefiguresofbodies;-thejudgmentpresently,byanhabitualcustom,alterstheappearancesintotheircauses。Sothatfromthatwhichistrulyvarietyofshadoworcolour,collectingthefigure,itmakesitpassforamarkoffigure,andframestoitselftheperceptionofaconvexfigureandanuniformcolour;whentheideawereceivefromthenceisonlyaplanevariouslycoloured,asisevidentinpainting。TowhichpurposeIshallhereinsertaproblemofthatveryingeniousandstudiouspromoterofrealknowledge,thelearnedandworthyMr。Molyneux,whichhewaspleasedtosendmeinalettersomemonthssince;anditisthis:-\"Supposeamanbornblind,andnowadult,andtaughtbyhistouchtodistinguishbetweenacubeandasphereofthesamemetal,andnighlyofthesamebigness,soastotell,whenhefeltoneandtheother,whichisthecube,whichthesphere。Supposethenthecubeandsphereplacedonatable,andtheblindmanbemadetosee:quaere,whetherbyhissight,beforehetouchedthem,hecouldnowdistinguishandtellwhichistheglobe,whichthecube?\"Towhichtheacuteandjudiciousproposeranswers,\"Not。For,thoughhehasobtainedtheexperienceofhowaglobe,howacubeaffectshistouch,yethehasnotyetobtainedtheexperience,thatwhataffectshistouchsoorso,mustaffecthissightsoorso;orthataprotuberantangleinthecube,thatpressedhishandunequally,shallappeartohiseyeasitdoesinthecube。\"-Iagreewiththisthinkinggentleman,whomIamproudtocallmyfriend,inhisanswertothisproblem;andamofopinionthattheblindman,atfirstsight,wouldnotbeablewithcertaintytosaywhichwastheglobe,whichthecube,whilstheonlysawthem;
thoughhecouldunerringlynamethembyhistouch,andcertainlydistinguishthembythedifferenceoftheirfiguresfelt。ThisI
havesetdown,andleavewithmyreader,asanoccasionforhimtoconsiderhowmuchhemaybebeholdentoexperience,improvement,andacquirednotions,wherehethinkshehadnottheleastuseof,orhelpfromthem。Andtherather,becausethisobservinggentlemanfurtheradds,that\"having,upontheoccasionofmybook,proposedthistodiversveryingeniousmen,hehardlyevermetwithonethatatfirstgavetheanswertoitwhichhethinkstrue,tillbyhearinghisreasonstheywereconvinced。\"
9。Thisjudgmentapttobemistakenfordirectperception。Butthisisnot,Ithink,usualinanyofourideas,butthosereceivedbysight。Becausesight,themostcomprehensiveofalloursenses,conveyingtoourmindstheideasoflightandcolours,whicharepeculiaronlytothatsense;andalsothefardifferentideasofspace,figure,andmotion,theseveralvarietieswhereofchangetheappearancesofitsproperobject,viz。lightandcolours;webringourselvesbyusetojudgeoftheonebytheother。This,inmanycasesbyasettledhabit,-inthingswhereofwehavefrequentexperience,isperformedsoconstantlyandsoquick,thatwetakethatfortheperceptionofoursensationwhichisanideaformedbyourjudgment;
sothatone,viz。thatofsensation,servesonlytoexcitetheother,andisscarcetakennoticeofitself;-asamanwhoreadsorhearswithattentionandunderstanding,takeslittlenoticeofthecharactersorsounds,butoftheideasthatareexcitedinhimbythem。
10。How,byhabit,ideasofsensationareunconsciouslychangedintoideasofjudgment。Norneedwewonderthatthisisdonewithsolittlenotice,ifweconsiderhowquicktheactionsofthemindareperformed。For,asitselfisthoughttotakeupnospace,tohavenoextension;soitsactionsseemtorequirenotime,butmanyofthemseemtobecrowdedintoaninstant。Ispeakthisincomparisontotheactionsofthebody。Anyonemayeasilyobservethisinhisownthoughts,whowilltakethepainstoreflectonthem。How,asitwereinaninstant,doourminds,withoneglance,seeallthepartsofademonstration,whichmayverywellbecalledalongone,ifweconsiderthetimeitwillrequiretoputitintowords,andstepbystepshowitanother?Secondly,weshallnotbesomuchsurprisedthatthisisdoneinuswithsolittlenotice,ifweconsiderhowthefacilitywhichwegetofdoingthings,byacustomofdoing,makesthemoftenpassinuswithoutournotice。Habits,especiallysuchasarebegunveryearly,comeatlasttoproduceactionsinus,whichoftenescapeourobservation。Howfrequentlydowe,inaday,coveroureyeswithoureyelids,withoutperceivingthatweareatallinthedark!Menthat,bycustom,havegottheuseofaby-word,doalmostineverysentencepronouncesoundswhich,thoughtakennoticeofbyothers,theythemselvesneitherhearnorobserve。Andthereforeitisnotsostrange,thatourmindshouldoftenchangetheideaofitssensationintothatofitsjudgment,andmakeoneserveonlytoexcitetheother,withoutourtakingnoticeofit。
11。Perceptionputsthedifferencebetweenanimalsandvegetables。
Thisfacultyofperceptionseemstometobe,thatwhichputsthedistinctionbetwixttheanimalkingdomandtheinferiorpartsofnature。For,howevervegetableshave,manyofthem,somedegreesofmotion,anduponthedifferentapplicationofotherbodiestothem,doverybrisklyaltertheirfiguresandmotions,andsohaveobtainedthenameofsensitiveplants,fromamotionwhichhassomeresemblancetothatwhichinanimalsfollowsuponsensation:yetIsupposeitisallbaremechanism;andnootherwiseproducedthantheturningofawildoat-beard,bytheinsinuationoftheparticlesofmoisture,ortheshorteningofarope,bytheaffusionofwater。Allwhichisdonewithoutanysensationinthesubject,orthehavingorreceivinganyideas。
12。Perceptioninallanimals。Perception,Ibelieve,is,insomedegree,inallsortsofanimals;thoughinsomepossiblytheavenuesprovidedbynatureforthereceptionofsensationsaresofew,andtheperceptiontheyarereceivedwithsoobscureanddull,thatitcomesextremelyshortofthequicknessandvarietyofsensationwhichisinotheranimals;butyetitissufficientfor,andwiselyadaptedto,thestateandconditionofthatsortofanimalswhoarethusmade。
SothatthewisdomandgoodnessoftheMakerplainlyappearinallthepartsofthisstupendousfabric,andalltheseveraldegreesandranksofcreaturesinit。
13。Accordingtotheircondition。Wemay,Ithink,fromthemakeofanoysterorcockle,reasonablyconcludethatithasnotsomany,norsoquicksensesasaman,orseveralotheranimals;norifithad,wouldit,inthatstateandincapacityoftransferringitselffromoneplacetoanother,bebetteredbythem。Whatgoodwouldsightandhearingdotoacreaturethatcannotmoveitselftoorfromtheobjectswhereinatadistanceitperceivesgoodorevil?Andwouldnotquicknessofsensationbeaninconveniencetoananimalthatmustliestillwherechancehasonceplacedit,andtherereceivetheaffluxofcolderorwarmer,cleanorfoulwater,asithappenstocometoit?
14。Decayofperceptioninoldage。ButyetIcannotbutthinkthereissomesmalldullperception,wherebytheyaredistinguishedfromperfectinsensibility。Andthatthismaybeso,wehaveplaininstances,eveninmankinditself。Takeoneinwhomdecrepitoldagehasblottedoutthememoryofhispastknowledge,andclearlywipedouttheideashismindwasformerlystoredwith,andhas,bydestroyinghissight,hearing,andsmellquite,andhistastetoagreatdegree,stoppedupalmostallthepassagesfornewonestoenter;oriftherebesomeoftheinletsyethalfopen,theimpressionsmadearescarcelyperceived,ornotatallretained。Howfarsuchanone(notwithstandingallthatisboastedofinnateprinciples)isinhisknowledgeandintellectualfacultiesabovetheconditionofacockleoranoyster,Ileavetobeconsidered。Andifamanhadpassedsixtyyearsinsuchastate,asitispossiblehemight,aswellasthreedays,Iwonderwhatdifferencetherewouldbe,inanyintellectualperfections,betweenhimandthelowestdegreeofanimals。
15。Perceptiontheinletofallmaterialsofknowledge。Perceptionthenbeingthefirststepanddegreetowardsknowledge,andtheinletofallthematerialsofit;thefewersensesanyman,aswellasanyothercreature,hath;andthefeweranddullertheimpressionsarethataremadebythem,andthedullerthefacultiesarethatareemployedaboutthem,-themoreremotearetheyfromthatknowledgewhichistobefoundinsomemen。Butthisbeingingreatvarietyofdegrees(asmaybeperceivedamongstmen)cannotcertainlybediscoveredintheseveralspeciesofanimals,muchlessintheirparticularindividuals。Itsufficesmeonlytohaveremarkedhere,-
thatperceptionisthefirstoperationofallourintellectualfaculties,andtheinletofallknowledgeinourminds。AndIamapttootoimagine,thatitisperception,inthelowestdegreeofit,whichputstheboundariesbetweenanimalsandtheinferiorranksofcreatures。ButthisImentiononlyasmyconjecturebytheby;itbeingindifferenttothematterinhandwhichwaythelearnedshalldetermineofit。
ChapterX
OfRetention1。Contemplation。Thenextfacultyofthemind,wherebyitmakesafurtherprogresstowardsknowledge,isthatwhichIcallretention;orthekeepingofthosesimpleideaswhichfromsensationorreflectionithathreceived。Thisisdonetwoways。
First,bykeepingtheideawhichisbroughtintoit,forsometimeactuallyinview,whichiscalledcontemplation。
2。Memory。Theotherwayofretentionis,thepowertoreviveagaininourmindsthoseideaswhich,afterimprinting,havedisappeared,orhavebeenasitwerelaidasideoutofsight。Andthuswedo,whenweconceiveheatorlight,yelloworsweet,-theobjectbeingremoved。Thisismemory,whichisasitwerethestorehouseofourideas。For,thenarrowmindofmannotbeingcapableofhavingmanyideasunderviewandconsiderationatonce,itwasnecessarytohavearepository,tolayupthoseideaswhich,atanothertime,itmighthaveuseof。But,ourideasbeingnothingbutactualperceptionsinthemind,whichceasetobeanythingwhenthereisnoperceptionofthem;thislayingupofourideasintherepositoryofthememorysignifiesnomorebutthis,-thatthemindhasapowerinmanycasestoreviveperceptionswhichithasoncehad,withthisadditionalperceptionannexedtothem,thatithashadthembefore。Andinthissenseitisthatourideasaresaidtobeinourmemories,whenindeedtheyareactuallynowhere;-butonlythereisanabilityinthemindwhenitwilltorevivethemagain,andasitwerepaintthemanewonitself,thoughsomewithmore,somewithlessdifficulty;somemorelively,andothersmoreobscurely。Andthusitis,bytheassistanceofthisfaculty,thatwearesaidtohaveallthoseideasinourunderstandingswhich,thoughwedonotactuallycontemplate,yetwecanbringinsight,andmakeappearagain,andbetheobjectsofourthoughts,withoutthehelpofthosesensiblequalitieswhichfirstimprintedthemthere。
3。Attention,repetition,pleasureandpain,fixideas。Attentionandrepetitionhelpmuchtothefixinganyideasinthememory。Butthosewhichnaturallyatfirstmakethedeepestandmostlastingimpressions,arethosewhichareaccompaniedwithpleasureorpain。
Thegreatbusinessofthesensesbeing,tomakeustakenoticeofwhathurtsoradvantagesthebody,itiswiselyorderedbynature,ashasbeenshown,thatpainshouldaccompanythereceptionofseveralideas;
which,supplyingtheplaceofconsiderationandreasoninginchildren,andactingquickerthanconsiderationingrownmen,makesboththeoldandyoungavoidpainfulobjectswiththathastewhichisnecessaryfortheirpreservation;andinbothsettlesinthememoryacautionforthefuture。
4。Ideasfadeinthememory。Concerningtheseveraldegreesoflasting,wherewithideasareimprintedonthememory,wemayobserve,-
thatsomeofthemhavebeenproducedintheunderstandingbyanobjectaffectingthesensesonceonly,andnomorethanonce;others,thathavemorethanonceofferedthemselvestothesenses,haveyetbeenlittletakennoticeof:themind,eitherheedless,asinchildren,orotherwiseemployed,asinmenintentonlyononething;notsettingthestampdeepintoitself。Andinsome,wheretheyaresetonwithcareandrepeatedimpressions,eitherthroughthetemperofthebody,orsomeotherfault,thememoryisveryweak。Inallthesecases,ideasinthemindquicklyfade,andoftenvanishquiteoutoftheunderstanding,leavingnomorefootstepsorremainingcharactersofthemselvesthanshadowsdoflyingoverfieldsofcorn,andthemindisasvoidofthemasiftheyhadneverbeenthere。
5。Causesofoblivion。Thusmanyofthoseideaswhichwereproducedinthemindsofchildren,inthebeginningoftheirsensation,(someofwhichperhaps,asofsomepleasuresandpains,werebeforetheywereborn,andothersintheirinfancy,)ifthefuturecourseoftheirlivestheyarenotrepeatedagain,arequitelost,withouttheleastglimpseremainingofthem。Thismaybeobservedinthosewhobysomemischancehavelosttheirsightwhentheywereveryyoung;inwhomtheideasofcolourshavingbeenbutslightlytakennoticeof,andceasingtoberepeated,doquitewearout;sothatsomeyearsafter,thereisnomorenotionnormemoryofcoloursleftintheirminds,thaninthoseofpeoplebornblind。Thememoryofsomemen,itistrue,isverytenacious,eventoamiracle。Butyetthereseemstobeaconstantdecayofallourideas,evenofthosewhicharestruckdeepest,andinmindsthemostretentive;sothatiftheybenotsometimesrenewed,byrepeatedexerciseofthesenses,orreflectiononthosekindsofobjectswhichatfirstoccasionedthem,theprintwearsout,andatlastthereremainsnothingtobeseen。Thustheideas,aswellaschildren,ofouryouth,oftendiebeforeus:andourmindsrepresenttousthosetombstowhichweareapproaching;where,thoughthebrassandmarbleremain,yettheinscriptionsareeffacedbytime,andtheimagerymouldersaway。Thepicturesdrawninourmindsarelaidinfadingcolours;andifnotsometimesrefreshed,vanishanddisappear。Howmuchtheconstitutionofourbodiesandthemakeofouranimalspiritsareconcernedinthis;andwhetherthetemperofthebrainmakesthisdifference,thatinsomeitretainsthecharactersdrawnonitlikemarble,inotherslikefreestone,andinotherslittlebetterthansand,Ishallnothereinquire;thoughitmayseemprobablethattheconstitutionofthebodydoessometimesinfluencethememory,sinceweoftentimesfindadiseasequitestripthemindofallitsideas,andtheflamesofafeverinafewdayscalcineallthoseimagestodustandconfusion,whichseemedtobeaslastingasifgravedinmarble。
6。Constantlyrepeatedideascanscarcebelost。Butconcerningtheideasthemselves,itiseasytoremark,thatthosethatareoftenestrefreshed(amongstwhicharethosethatareconveyedintothemindbymorewaysthanone)byafrequentreturnoftheobjectsoractionsthatproducethem,fixthemselvesbestinthememory,andremainclearestandlongestthere;andthereforethosewhichareoftheoriginalqualitiesofbodies,vis。solidity,extension,figure,motion,andrest;andthosethatalmostconstantlyaffectourbodies,asheatandcold;andthosewhicharetheaffectionsofallkindsofbeings,asexistence,duration,andnumber,whichalmosteveryobjectthataffectsoursenses,everythoughtwhichemploysourminds,bringalongwiththem;-these,Isay,andthelikeideas,areseldomquitelost,whilstthemindretainsanyideasatall。
7。Inremembering,themindisoftenactive。Inthissecondaryperception,asImaysocallit,orviewingagaintheideasthatarelodgedinthememory,themindisoftentimesmorethanbarelypassive;
theappearanceofthosedormantpicturesdependingsometimesonthewill。Themindveryoftensetsitselfonworkinsearchofsomehiddenidea,andturnsasitweretheeyeofthesouluponit;thoughsometimestootheystartupinourmindsoftheirownaccord,andofferthemselvestotheunderstanding;andveryoftenarerousedandtumbledoutoftheirdarkcellsintoopendaylight,byturbulentandtempestuouspassions;ouraffectionsbringingideastoourmemory,whichhadotherwiselainquietandunregarded。Thisfurtheristobeobserved,concerningideaslodgedinthememory,anduponoccasionrevivedbythemind,thattheyarenotonly(asthewordreviveimports)noneofthemnewones,butalsothatthemindtakesnoticeofthemasofaformerimpression,andrenewsitsacquaintancewiththem,aswithideasithadknownbefore。Sothatthoughideasformerlyimprintedarenotallconstantlyinview,yetinremembrancetheyareconstantlyknowntobesuchashavebeenformerlyimprinted;
i。e。inview,andtakennoticeofbefore,bytheunderstanding。
8。Twodefectsinthememory,oblivionandslowness。Memory,inanintellectualcreature,isnecessaryinthenextdegreetoperception。Itisofsogreatmoment,that,whereitiswanting,alltherestofourfacultiesareinagreatmeasureuseless。Andweinourthoughts,reasonings,andknowledge,couldnotproceedbeyondpresentobjects,wereitnotfortheassistanceofourmemories;
whereintheremaybetwodefects:-
First,Thatitlosestheideaquite,andsofaritproducesperfectignorance。For,sincewecanknownothingfurtherthanwehavetheideaofit,whenthatisgone,weareinperfectignorance。
Secondly,Thatitmovesslowly,andretrievesnottheideasthatithas,andarelaidupinstore,quickenoughtoservetheminduponoccasion。This,ifitbetoagreatdegree,isstupidity;andhewho,throughthisdefaultinhismemory,hasnottheideasthatarereallypreservedthere,readyathandwhenneedandoccasioncallsforthem,werealmostasgoodbewithoutthemquite,sincetheyservehimtolittlepurpose。Thedullman,wholosestheopportunity,whilstheisseekinginhismindforthoseideasthatshouldservehisturn,isnotmuchmorehappyinhisknowledgethanonethatisperfectlyignorant。Itisthebusinessthereforeofthememorytofurnishtothemindthosedormantideaswhichithaspresentoccasionfor;inthehavingthemreadyathandonalloccasions,consiststhatwhichwecallinvention,fancy,andquicknessofparts。
9。Adefectwhichbelongstothememoryofman,asfinite。Thesearedefectswemayobserveinthememoryofonemancomparedwithanother。
Thereisanotherdefectwhichwemayconceivetobeinthememoryofmaningeneral;-comparedwithsomesuperiorcreatedintellectualbeings,whichinthisfacultymaysofarexcelman,thattheymayhaveconstantlyinviewthewholesceneofalltheirformeractions,whereinnooneofthethoughtstheyhaveeverhadmayslipoutoftheirsight。TheomniscienceofGod,whoknowsallthings,past,present,andtocome,andtowhomthethoughtsofmen’sheartsalwayslieopen,maysatisfyusofthepossibilityofthis。ForwhocandoubtbutGodmaycommunicatetothosegloriousspirits,hisimmediateattendants,anyofhisperfections;inwhatproportionshepleases,asfarascreatedfinitebeingscanbecapable?Itisreportedofthatprodigyofparts,MonsieurPascal,thattillthedecayofhishealthhadimpairedhismemory,heforgotnothingofwhathehaddone,read,orthought,inanypartofhisrationalage。Thisisaprivilegesolittleknowntomostmen,thatitseemsalmostincredibletothosewho,aftertheordinaryway,measureallothersbythemselves;butyet,whenconsidered,mayhelpustoenlargeourthoughtstowardsgreaterperfectionsofit,insuperiorranksofspirits。ForthisofMonsieurPascalwasstillwiththenarrownessthathumanmindsareconfinedtohere,-ofhavinggreatvarietyofideasonlybysuccession,notallatonce。Whereastheseveraldegreesofangelsmayprobablyhavelargerviews;andsomeofthembeendowedwithcapacitiesabletoretaintogether,andconstantlysetbeforethem,asinonepicture,alltheirpastknowledgeatonce。
This,wemayconceive,wouldbenosmalladvantagetotheknowledgeofathinkingman,-ifallhispastthoughtsandreasoningscouldbealwayspresenttohim。Andthereforewemaysupposeitoneofthoseways,whereintheknowledgeofseparatespiritsmayexceedinglysurpassours。
10。Bruteshavememory。Thisfacultyoflayingupandretainingtheideasthatarebroughtintothemind,severalotheranimalsseemtohavetoagreatdegree,aswellasman。For,topassbyotherinstances,birdslearningoftunes,andtheendeavoursonemayobserveinthemtohitthenotesright,putitpastdoubtwithme,thattheyhaveperception,andretainideasintheirmemories,andusethemforpatterns。Foritseemstomeimpossiblethattheyshouldendeavourtoconformtheirvoicestonotes(asitisplaintheydo)ofwhichtheyhadnoideas。For,thoughIshouldgrantsoundmaymechanicallycauseacertainmotionoftheanimalspiritsinthebrainsofthosebirds,whilstthetuneisactuallyplaying;andthatmotionmaybecontinuedontothemusclesofthewings,andsothebirdmechanicallybedrivenawaybycertainnoises,becausethismaytendtothebird’spreservation;yetthatcanneverbesupposedareasonwhyitshouldcausemechanically-eitherwhilstthetuneisplaying,muchlessafterithasceased-suchamotionoftheorgansinthebird’svoiceasshouldconformittothenotesofaforeignsound,whichimitationcanbeofnousetothebird’spreservation。But,whichismore,itcannotwithanyappearanceofreasonbesupposed(muchlessproved)thatbirds,withoutsenseandmemory,canapproachtheirnotesnearerandnearerbydegreestoatuneplayedyesterday;whichiftheyhavenoideaofintheirmemory,isnownowhere,norcanbeapatternforthemtoimitate,orwhichanyrepeatedessayscanbringthemnearerto。Sincethereisnoreasonwhythesoundofapipeshouldleavetracesintheirbrains,which,notatfirst,butbytheirafter-endeavours,shouldproducethelikesounds;andwhythesoundstheymakethemselves,shouldnotmaketraceswhichtheyshouldfollow,aswellasthoseofthepipe,isimpossibletoconceive。
ChapterXI
OfDiscerning,andotheroperationsoftheMind1。Noknowledgewithoutdiscernment。Anotherfacultywemaytakenoticeofinourmindsisthatofdiscerninganddistinguishingbetweentheseveralideasithas。Itisnotenoughtohaveaconfusedperceptionofsomethingingeneral。Unlessthemindhadadistinctperceptionofdifferentobjectsandtheirqualities,itwouldbecapableofverylittleknowledge,thoughthebodiesthataffectuswereasbusyaboutusastheyarenow,andthemindwerecontinuallyemployedinthinking。Onthisfacultyofdistinguishingonethingfromanotherdependstheevidenceandcertaintyofseveral,evenverygeneral,propositions,whichhavepassedforinnatetruths;-becausemen,overlookingthetruecausewhythosepropositionsfinduniversalassent,imputeitwhollytonativeuniformimpressions;whereasitintruthdependsuponthiscleardiscerningfacultyofthemind,wherebyitperceivestwoideastobethesame,ordifferent。Butofthismorehereafter。
2。Thedifferenceofwitandjudgment。Howmuchtheimperfectionofaccuratelydiscriminatingideasonefromanotherlies,eitherinthedulnessorfaultsoftheorgansofsense;orwantofacuteness,exercise,orattentionintheunderstanding;orhastinessandprecipitancy,naturaltosometempers,Iwillnothereexamine:itsufficestotakenotice,thatthisisoneoftheoperationsthatthemindmayreflectonandobserveinitselfItisofthatconsequencetoitsotherknowledge,thatsofarasthisfacultyisinitselfdull,ornotrightlymadeuseof,forthedistinguishingonethingfromanother,-sofarournotionsareconfused,andourreasonandjudgmentdisturbedormisled。Ifinhavingourideasinthememoryreadyathandconsistsquicknessofparts;inthis,ofhavingthemunconfused,andbeingablenicelytodistinguishonethingfromanother,wherethereisbuttheleastdifference,consists,inagreatmeasure,theexactnessofjudgment,andclearnessofreason,whichistobeobservedinonemanaboveanother。Andhenceperhapsmaybegivensomereasonofthatcommonobservation,-thatmenwhohaveagreatdealofwit,andpromptmemories,havenotalwaystheclearestjudgmentordeepestreason。Forwitlyingmostintheassemblageofideas,andputtingthosetogetherwithquicknessandvariety,whereincanbefoundanyresemblanceorcongruity,therebytomakeuppleasantpicturesandagreeablevisionsinthefancy;judgment,onthecontrary,liesquiteontheotherside,inseparatingcarefully,onefromanother,ideaswhereincanbefoundtheleastdifference,therebytoavoidbeingmisledbysimilitude,andbyaffinitytotakeonethingforanother。Thisisawayofproceedingquitecontrarytometaphorandallusion;whereinforthemostpartliesthatentertainmentandpleasantryofwit,whichstrikessolivelyonthefancy,andthereforeissoacceptabletoallpeople,becauseitsbeautyappearsatfirstsight,andthereisrequirednolaborofthoughttoexaminewhattruthorreasonthereisinit。Themind,withoutlookinganyfurther,restssatisfiedwiththeagreeablenessofthepictureandthegaietyofthefancy。Anditisakindofaffronttogoabouttoexamineit,bythesevererulesoftruthandgoodreason;wherebyitappearsthatitconsistsinsomethingthatisnotperfectlyconformabletothem。
3。Clearnessdonehindersconfusion。Tothewelldistinguishingourideas,itchieflycontributesthattheybeclearanddeterminate。Andwhentheyareso,itwillnotbreedanyconfusionormistakeaboutthem,thoughthesensesshould(assometimestheydo)
conveythemfromthesameobjectdifferentlyondifferentoccasions,andsoseemtoerr。For,thoughamaninafevershouldfromsugarhaveabittertaste,whichatanothertimewouldproduceasweetone,yettheideaofbitterinthatman’smindwouldbeasclearanddistinctfromtheideaofsweetasifhehadtastedonlygall。Nordoesitmakeanymoreconfusionbetweenthetwoideasofsweetandbitter,thatthesamesortofbodyproducesatonetimeone,andatanothertimeanotherideabythetaste,thanitmakesaconfusionintwoideasofwhiteandsweet,orwhiteandround,thatthesamepieceofsugarproducesthembothinthemindatthesametime。Andtheideasoforange-colourandazure,thatareproducedinthemindbythesameparceloftheinfusionoflignumnephriticum,arenolessdistinctideasthanthoseofthesamecolourstakenfromtwoverydifferentbodies。
4。Comparing。TheCOMPARINGthemonewithanother,inrespectofextent,degrees,time,place,oranyothercircumstances,isanotheroperationofthemindaboutitsideas,andisthatuponwhichdependsallthatlargetribeofideascomprehendedunderrelation;
which,ofhowvastanextentitis,Ishallhaveoccasiontoconsiderhereafter。
5。Brutescomparebutimperfectly。Howfarbrutespartakeinthisfaculty,isnoteasytodetermine。Iimaginetheyhaveitnotinanygreatdegree:for,thoughtheyprobablyhaveseveralideasdistinctenough,yetitseemstometobetheprerogativeofhumanunderstanding,whenithassufficientlydistinguishedanyideas,soastoperceivethemtobeperfectlydifferent,andsoconsequentlytwo,tocastaboutandconsiderinwhatcircumstancestheyarecapabletobecompared。Andtherefore,Ithink,beastscomparenottheirideasfurtherthansomesensiblecircumstancesannexedtotheobjectsthemselves。Theotherpowerofcomparing,whichmaybeobservedinmen,belongingtogeneralideas,andusefulonlytoabstractreasonings,wemayprobablyconjecturebeastshavenot。
6。Compounding。ThenextoperationwemayobserveinthemindaboutitsideasisCOMPOSITION;wherebyitputstogetherseveralofthosesimpleonesithasreceivedfromsensationandreflection,andcombinesthemintocomplexones。Underthisofcompositionmaybereckonedalsothatofenlarging,wherein,thoughthecompositiondoesnotsomuchappearasinmorecomplexones,yetitisneverthelessaputtingseveralideastogether,thoughofthesamekind。Thus,byaddingseveralunitstogether,wemaketheideaofadozen;andputtingtogethertherepeatedideasofseveralperches,weframethatofafurlong。
7。Brutescompoundbutlittle。Inthisalso,Isuppose,brutescomefarshortofman。For,thoughtheytakein,andretaintogether,severalcombinationsofsimpleideas,aspossiblytheshape,smell,andvoiceofhismastermakeupthecomplexideaadoghasofhim,orratheraresomanydistinctmarkswherebyheknowshim;yetIdonotthinktheydoofthemselvesevercompoundthemandmakecomplexideas。Andperhapsevenwherewethinktheyhavecomplexideas,itisonlyonesimpleonethatdirectsthemintheknowledgeofseveralthings,whichpossiblytheydistinguishlessbytheirsightthanweimagine。ForIhavebeencrediblyinformedthatabitchwillnurse,playwith,andbefondofyoungfoxes,asmuchas,andinplaceofherpuppies,ifyoucanbutgetthemoncetosuckhersolongthathermilkmaygothroughthem。Andthoseanimalswhichhaveanumerousbroodofyoungonesatonce,appearnottohaveanyknowledgeoftheirnumber;forthoughtheyaremightilyconcernedforanyoftheiryoungthataretakenfromthemwhilsttheyareinsightorhearing,yetifoneortwoofthembestolenfromthemintheirabsence,orwithoutnoise,theyappearnottomissthem,ortohaveanysensethattheirnumberislessened。
8。Naming。Whenchildrenhave,byrepeatedsensations,gotideasfixedintheirmemories,theybeginbydegreestolearntheuseofsigns。Andwhentheyhavegottheskilltoapplytheorgansofspeechtotheframingofarticulatesounds,theybegintomakeuseofwords,tosignifytheirideastoothers。Theseverbalsignstheysometimesborrowfromothers,andsometimesmakethemselves,asonemayobserveamongthenewandunusualnameschildrenoftengivetothingsinthefirstuseoflanguage。
9。Abstraction。Theuseofwordsthenbeingtostandasoutwardmarksofourinternalideas,andthoseideasbeingtakenfromparticularthings,ifeveryparticularideathatwetakeinshouldhaveadistinctname,namesmustbeendless。Topreventthis,themindmakestheparticularideasreceivedfromparticularobjectstobecomegeneral;whichisdonebyconsideringthemastheyareinthemindsuchappearances,-separatefromallotherexistences,andthecircumstancesofrealexistence,astime,place,oranyotherconcomitantideas。ThisiscalledABSTRACTION,wherebyideastakenfromparticularbeingsbecomegeneralrepresentativesofallofthesamekind;andtheirnamesgeneralnames,applicabletowhateverexistsconformabletosuchabstractideas。Suchprecise,nakedappearancesinthemind,withoutconsideringhow,whence,orwithwhatotherstheycamethere,theunderstandinglaysup(withnamescommonlyannexedtothem)asthestandardstorankrealexistencesintosorts,astheyagreewiththesepatterns,andtodenominatethemaccordingly。Thusthesamecolourbeingobservedto-dayinchalkorsnow,whichthemindyesterdayreceivedfrommilk,itconsidersthatappearancealone,makesitarepresentativeofallofthatkind;andhavinggivenitthenamewhiteness,itbythatsoundsignifiesthesamequalitywheresoevertobeimaginedormetwith;andthusuniversals,whetherideasorterms,aremade。
10。Brutesabstractnot。Ifitmaybedoubtedwhetherbeastscompoundandenlargetheirideasthatwaytoanydegree;this,I
think,Imaybepositivein,-thatthepowerofabstractingisnotatallinthem;andthatthehavingofgeneralideasisthatwhichputsaperfectdistinctionbetwixtmanandbrutes,andisanexcellencywhichthefacultiesofbrutesdobynomeansattainto。Foritisevidentweobservenofootstepsinthemofmakinguseofgeneralsignsforuniversalideas;fromwhichwehavereasontoimaginethattheyhavenotthefacultyofabstracting,ormakinggeneralideas,sincetheyhavenouseofwords,oranyothergeneralsigns。
11。Brutesabstractnot,yetarenotbaremachines。Norcanitbeimputedtotheirwantoffitorganstoframearticulatesounds,thattheyhavenouseorknowledgeofgeneralwords;sincemanyofthem,wefind,canfashionsuchsounds,andpronouncewordsdistinctlyenough,butneverwithanysuchapplication。And,ontheotherside,menwho,throughsomedefectintheorgans,wantwords,yetfailnottoexpresstheiruniversalideasbysigns,whichservetheminsteadofgeneralwords,afacultywhichweseebeastscomeshortin。And,therefore,Ithink,wemaysuppose,thatitisinthisthatthespeciesofbrutesarediscriminatedfromman:anditisthatproperdifferencewhereintheyarewhollyseparated,andwhichatlastwidenstosovastadistance。Foriftheyhaveanyideasatall,andarenotbaremachines,(assomewouldhavethem,)wecannotdenythemtohavesomereason。Itseemsasevidenttome,thattheydosomeofthemincertaininstancesreason,asthattheyhavesense;butitisonlyinparticularideas,justastheyreceivedthemfromtheirsenses。
Theyarethebestofthemtiedupwithinthosenarrowbounds,andhavenot(asIthink)thefacultytoenlargethembyanykindofabstraction。
12。Idiotsandmadmen。Howfaridiotsareconcernedinthewantorweaknessofany,oralloftheforegoingfaculties,anexactobservationoftheirseveralwaysoffaulteringwouldnodoubtdiscover。Forthosewhoeitherperceivebutdully,orretaintheideasthatcomeintotheirmindsbutill,whocannotreadilyexciteorcompoundthem,willhavelittlemattertothinkon。Thosewhocannotdistinguish,compare,andabstract,wouldhardlybeabletounderstandandmakeuseoflanguage,orjudgeorreasontoanytolerabledegree;butonlyalittleandimperfectlyaboutthingspresent,andveryfamiliartotheirsenses。Andindeedanyoftheforementionedfaculties,ifwanting,oroutoforder,producesuitabledefectsinmen’sunderstandingsandknowledge。
13。Differencebetweenidiotsandmadmen。Infine,thedefectinnaturalsseemstoproceedfromwantofquickness,activity,andmotionintheintellectualfaculties,wherebytheyaredeprivedofreason;
whereasmadmen,ontheotherside,seemtosufferbytheotherextreme。Fortheydonotappeartometohavelostthefacultyofreasoning,buthavingjoinedtogethersomeideasverywrongly,theymistakethemfortruths;andtheyerrasmendothatarguerightfromwrongprinciples。For,bytheviolenceoftheirimaginations,havingtakentheirfanciesforrealities,theymakerightdeductionsfromthem。Thusyoushallfindadistractedmanfancyinghimselfaking,witharightinferencerequiresuitableattendance,respect,andobedience:otherswhohavethoughtthemselvesmadeofglass,haveusedthecautionnecessarytopreservesuchbrittlebodies。Henceitcomestopassthatamanwhoisverysober,andofarightunderstandinginallotherthings,mayinoneparticularbeasfranticasanyinBedlam;ifeitherbyanysuddenverystrongimpression,orlongfixinghisfancyupononesortofthoughts,incoherentideashavebeencementedtogethersopowerfully,astoremainunited。Buttherearedegreesofmadness,asoffolly;thedisorderlyjumblingideastogetherisinsomemore,andsomeless。Inshort,hereinseemstoliethedifferencebetweenidiotsandmadmen:thatmadmenputwrongideastogether,andsomakewrongpropositions,butargueandreasonrightfromthem;butidiotsmakeveryfewornopropositions,andreasonscarceatall。
14。Methodfollowedinthisexplicationoffaculties。These,I
think,arethefirstfacultiesandoperationsofthemind,whichitmakesuseofinunderstanding;andthoughtheyareexercisedaboutallitsideasingeneral,yettheinstancesIhavehithertogivenhavebeenchieflyinsimpleideas。AndIhavesubjoinedtheexplicationofthesefacultiesofthemindtothatofsimpleideas,beforeI
cometowhatIhavetosayconcerningcomplexones,forthesefollowingreasons:-
First,Becauseseveralofthesefacultiesbeingexercisedatfirstprincipallyaboutsimpleideas,wemight,byfollowingnatureinitsordinarymethod,traceanddiscoverthem,intheirrise,progress,andgradualimprovements。
Secondly,Becauseobservingthefacultiesofthemind,howtheyoperateaboutsimpleideas,-whichareusually,inmostmen’sminds,muchmoreclear,precise,anddistinctthancomplexones,-wemaythebetterexamineandlearnhowthemindextracts,denominates,compares,andexercises,initsotheroperationsaboutthosewhicharecomplex,whereinwearemuchmoreliabletomistake。
Thirdly,Becausetheseveryoperationsofthemindaboutideasreceivedfromsensations,arethemselves,whenreflectedon,anothersetofideas,derivedfromthatothersourceofourknowledge,whichI
callreflection;andthereforefittobeconsideredinthisplaceafterthesimpleideasofsensation。Ofcompounding,comparing,abstracting,&c。,Ihavebutjustspoken,havingoccasiontotreatofthemmoreatlargeinotherplaces。
15。Thetruebeginningofhumanknowledge。AndthusIhavegivenashort,and,Ithink,truehistoryofthefirstbeginningsofhumanknowledge;-whencethemindhasitsfirstobjects;andbywhatstepsitmakesitsprogresstothelayinginandstoringupthoseideas,outofwhichistobeframedalltheknowledgeitiscapableof:whereinI
mustappealtoexperienceandobservationwhetherIamintheright:
thebestwaytocometotruthbeingtoexaminethingsasreallytheyare,andnottoconcludetheyare,aswefancyofourselves,orhavebeentaughtbyotherstoimagine。
16。Appealtoexperience。Todealtruly,thisistheonlywaythatI
candiscover,wherebytheideasofthingsarebroughtintotheunderstanding。Ifothermenhaveeitherinnateideasorinfusedprinciples,theyhavereasontoenjoythem;andiftheyaresureofit,itisimpossibleforotherstodenythemtheprivilegethattheyhaveabovetheirneighbours。IcanspeakbutofwhatIfindinmyself,andisagreeabletothosenotions,which,ifwewillexaminethewholecourseofmenintheirseveralages,countries,andeducations,seemtodependonthosefoundationswhichIhavelaid,andtocorrespondwiththismethodinallthepartsanddegreesthereof。
17。Darkroom。Ipretendnottoteach,buttoinquire;andthereforecannotbutconfesshereagain,-thatexternalandinternalsensationaretheonlypassagesIcanfindofknowledgetotheunderstanding。
Thesealone,asfarasIcandiscover,arethewindowsbywhichlightisletintothisdarkroom。For,methinks,theunderstandingisnotmuchunlikeaclosetwhollyshutfromlight,withonlysomelittleopeningsleft,toletinexternalvisibleresemblances,orideasofthingswithout:wouldthepicturescomingintosuchadarkroombutstaythere,andliesoorderlyastobefounduponoccasion,itwouldverymuchresembletheunderstandingofaman,inreferencetoallobjectsofsight,andtheideasofthem。
Thesearemyguessesconcerningthemeanswherebytheunderstandingcomestohaveandretainsimpleideas,andthemodesofthem,withsomeotheroperationsaboutthem。
Iproceednowtoexaminesomeofthesesimpleideasandtheirmodesalittlemoreparticularly。
ChapterXII
OfComplexIdeas1。Madebythemindoutofsimpleones。Wehavehithertoconsideredthoseideas,inthereceptionwhereofthemindisonlypassive,whicharethosesimpleonesreceivedfromsensationandreflectionbeforementioned,whereofthemindcannotmakeonetoitself,norhaveanyideawhichdoesnotwhollyconsistofthem。Butasthemindiswhollypassiveinthereceptionofallitssimpleideas,soitexertsseveralactsofitsown,wherebyoutofitssimpleideas,asthematerialsandfoundationsoftherest,theothersareframed。Theactsofthemind,whereinitexertsitspoweroveritssimpleideas,arechieflythesethree:(1)Combiningseveralsimpleideasintoonecompoundone;andthusallcomplexideasaremade。
(2)Thesecondisbringingtwoideas,whethersimpleorcomplex,together,andsettingthembyoneanother,soastotakeaviewofthematonce,withoutunitingthemintoone;bywhichwayitgetsallitsideasofrelations。(3)Thethirdisseparatingthemfromallotherideasthataccompanythemintheirrealexistence:thisiscalledabstraction:andthusallitsgeneralideasaremade。Thisshowsman’spower,anditswaysofoperation,tobemuchthesameinthematerialandintellectualworld。Forthematerialsinbothbeingsuchashehasnopowerover,eithertomakeordestroy,allthatmancandoiseithertounitethemtogether,ortosetthembyoneanother,orwhollyseparatethem。Ishallherebeginwiththefirstoftheseintheconsiderationofcomplexideas,andcometotheothertwointheirdueplaces。Assimpleideasareobservedtoexistinseveralcombinationsunitedtogether,sothemindhasapowertoconsiderseveralofthemunitedtogetherasoneidea;andthatnotonlyastheyareunitedinexternalobjects,butasitselfhasjoinedthemtogether。Ideasthusmadeupofseveralsimpleonesputtogether,Icallcomplex;-suchasarebeauty,gratitude,aman,anarmy,theuniverse;which,thoughcomplicatedofvarioussimpleideas,orcomplexideasmadeupofsimpleones,yetare,whenthemindpleases,consideredeachbyitself,asoneentirething,andsignifiedbyonename。
2。Madevoluntarily。Inthisfacultyofrepeatingandjoiningtogetheritsideas,themindhasgreatpowerinvaryingandmultiplyingtheobjectsofitsthoughts,infinitelybeyondwhatsensationorreflectionfurnisheditwith:butallthisstillconfinedtothosesimpleideaswhichitreceivedfromthosetwosources,andwhicharetheultimatematerialsofallitscompositions。Forsimpleideasareallfromthingsthemselves,andofthesethemindcanhavenomore,norotherthanwhataresuggestedtoit。Itcanhavenootherideasofsensiblequalitiesthanwhatcomefromwithoutbythesenses;
noranyideasofotherkindofoperationsofathinkingsubstance,thanwhatitfindsinitselfButwhenithasoncegotthesesimpleideas,itisnotconfinedbarelytoobservation,andwhatoffersitselffromwithout;itcan,byitsownpower,puttogetherthoseideasithas,andmakenewcomplexones,whichitneverreceivedsounited。
3。Complexideasareeitherofmodes,substances,orrelations。
COMPLEXIDEAS,howevercompoundedanddecompounded,thoughtheirnumberbeinfinite,andthevarietyendless,wherewiththeyfillandentertainthethoughtsofmen;yetIthinktheymaybeallreducedunderthesethreeheads:-
1。MODES。
2。SUBSTANCES。
3。RELATIONS。
4。Ideasofmodes。First,ModesIcallsuchcomplexideaswhich,howevercompounded,containnotinthemthesuppositionofsubsistingbythemselves,butareconsideredasdependenceson,oraffectionsofsubstances;-suchasaretheideassignifiedbythewordstriangle,gratitude,murder,&c。AndifinthisIusethewordmodeinsomewhatadifferentsensefromitsordinarysignification,Ibegpardon;itbeingunavoidableindiscourses,differingfromtheordinaryreceivednotions,eithertomakenewwords,ortouseoldwordsinsomewhatanewsignification;thelaterwhereof,inourpresentcase,isperhapsthemoretolerableofthetwo。
5。Simpleandmixedmodesofsimpleideas。Ofthesemodes,therearetwosortswhichdeservedistinctconsideration:
First,therearesomewhichareonlyvariations,ordifferentcombinationsofthesamesimpleidea,withoutthemixtureofanyother;-asadozen,orscore;whicharenothingbuttheideasofsomanydistinctunitsaddedtogether,andtheseIcallsimplemodesasbeingcontainedwithintheboundsofonesimpleidea。
Secondly,thereareotherscompoundedofsimpleideasofseveralkinds,puttogethertomakeonecomplexone;-v。g。beauty,consistingofacertaincompositionofcolourandfigure,causingdelighttothebeholder;theft,whichbeingtheconcealedchangeofthepossessionofanything,withouttheconsentoftheproprietor,contains,asisvisible,acombinationofseveralideasofseveralkinds:andtheseIcallmixedmodes。
6。Ideasofsubstances,singleorcollective。Secondly,theideasofSubstancesaresuchcombinationsofsimpleideasasaretakentorepresentdistinctparticularthingssubsistingbythemselves;thesupposedorconfusedideaofsubstance,suchasitis,isalwaysthefirstandchiefThusiftosubstancebejoinedthesimpleideaofacertaindullwhitishcolour,withcertaindegreesofweight,hardness,ductility,andfusibility,wehavetheideaoflead;andacombinationoftheideasofacertainsortoffigure,withthepowersofmotion,thoughtandreasoning,joinedtosubstance,theordinaryideaofaman。Nowofsubstancesalso,therearetwosortsofideas:-oneofsinglesubstances,astheyexistseparately,asofamanorasheep;
theotherofseveralofthoseputtogether,asanarmyofmen,orflockofsheep-whichcollectiveideasofseveralsubstancesthusputtogetherareasmucheachofthemonesingleideaasthatofamanoranunit。
7。Ideasofrelation。Thirdly,thelastsortofcomplexideasisthatwecallRelation,whichconsistsintheconsiderationandcomparingoneideawithanother。
Oftheseseveralkindsweshalltreatintheirorder。
8。Theabstrusestideaswecanhaveareallfromtwosources。Ifwetracetheprogressofourminds,andwithattentionobservehowitrepeats,addstogether,andunitesitssimpleideasreceivedfromsensationorreflection,itwillleadusfurtherthanatfirstperhapsweshouldhaveimagined。And,Ibelieve,weshallfind,ifwewarilyobservetheoriginalsofournotions,thateventhemostabstruseideas,howremotesoevertheymayseemfromsense,orfromanyoperationsofourownminds,areyetonlysuchastheunderstandingframestoitself,byrepeatingandjoiningtogetherideasthatithadeitherfromobjectsofsense,orfromitsownoperationsaboutthem:sothatthoseevenlargeandabstractideasarederivedfromsensationorreflection,beingnootherthanwhatthemind,bytheordinaryuseofitsownfaculties,employedaboutideasreceivedfromobjectsofsense,orfromtheoperationsitobservesinitselfaboutthem,may,anddoes,attainunto。
ThisIshallendeavourtoshowintheideaswehaveofspace,time,andinfinity,andsomefewothersthatseemthemostremote,fromthoseoriginals。
ChapterXIII
ComplexIdeasofSimpleModes:-
andFirst,oftheSimpleModesoftheIdeaofSpace1。Simplemodesofsimpleideas。ThoughintheforegoingpartIhaveoftenmentionedsimpleideas,whicharetrulythematerialsofallourknowledge;yethavingtreatedofthemthere,ratherinthewaythattheycomeintothemind,thanasdistinguishedfromothersmorecompounded,itwillnotbeperhapsamisstotakeaviewofsomeofthemagainunderthisconsideration,andexaminethosedifferentmodificationsofthesameidea;whichthemindeitherfindsinthingsexisting,orisabletomakewithinitselfwithoutthehelpofanyextrinsicalobject,oranyforeignsuggestion。
Thosemodificationsofanyonesimpleidea(which,ashasbeensaid,Icallsimplemodes)areasperfectlydifferentanddistinctideasinthemindasthoseofthegreatestdistanceorcontrariety。Fortheideaoftwoisasdistinctfromthatofone,asbluenessfromheat,oreitherofthemfromanynumber:andyetitismadeuponlyofthatsimpleideaofanunitrepeated;andrepetitionsofthiskindjoinedtogethermakethosedistinctsimplemodes,ofadozen,agross,amillion。
2。IdeaofSpace。Ishallbeginwiththesimpleideaofspace。I
haveshowedabove,chap。V,thatwegettheideaofspace,bothbyoursightandtouch;which,Ithink,issoevident,thatitwouldbeasneedlesstogotoprovethatmenperceive,bytheirsight,adistancebetweenbodiesofdifferentcolours,orbetweenthepartsofthesamebody,asthattheyseecoloursthemselves:norisitlessobvious,thattheycandosointhedarkbyfeelingandtouch。
3。Spaceandextension。Thisspace,consideredbarelyinlengthbetweenanytwobeings,withoutconsideringanythingelsebetweenthem,iscalleddistance:ifconsideredinlength,breadth,andthickness,Ithinkitmaybecalledcapacity。(Thetermextensionisusuallyappliedtoitinwhatmannersoeverconsidered。)
4。Immensity。Eachdifferentdistanceisadifferentmodificationofspace;andeachideaofanydifferentdistance,orspace,isasimplemodeofthisidea。Men,fortheuseandbythecustomofmeasuring,settleintheirmindstheideasofcertainstatedlengths,-
suchasareaninch,foot,yard,fathom,mile,diameteroftheearth,&c。,whicharesomanydistinctideasmadeuponlyofspace。
Whenanysuchstatedlengthsormeasuresofspacearemadefamiliartomen’sthoughts,theycan,intheirminds,repeatthemasoftenastheywill,withoutmixingorjoiningtothemtheideaofbody,oranythingelse;andframetothemselvestheideasoflong,square,orcubicfeet,yardsorfathoms,hereamongstthebodiesoftheuniverse,orelsebeyondtheutmostboundsofallbodies;and,byaddingthesestillonetoanother,enlargetheirideasofspaceasmuchastheyplease。Thepowerofrepeatingordoublinganyideawehaveofanydistanceandaddingittotheformerasoftenaswewill,withoutbeingeverabletocometoanystoporstint,letusenlargeitasmuchaswewill,isthatwhichgivesustheideaofimmensity。
5。Figure。Thereisanothermodificationofthisidea,whichisnothingbuttherelationwhichthepartsoftheterminationofextension,orcircumscribedspace,haveamongstthemselves。Thisthetouchdiscoversinsensiblebodies,whoseextremitiescomewithinourreach;andtheeyetakesbothfrombodiesandcolours,whoseboundariesarewithinitsview:where,observinghowtheextremitiesterminate,-eitherinstraightlineswhichmeetatdiscernibleangles,orincrookedlineswhereinnoanglescanbeperceived;byconsideringtheseastheyrelatetooneanother,inallpartsoftheextremitiesofanybodyorspace,ithasthatideawecallfigure,whichaffordstothemindinfinitevariety。For,besidesthevastnumberofdifferentfiguresthatdoreallyexist,inthecoherentmassesofmatter,thestockthatthemindhasinitspower,byvaryingtheideaofspace,andtherebymakingstillnewcompositions,byrepeatingitsownideas,andjoiningthemasitpleases,isperfectlyinexhaustible。Andsoitcanmultiplyfiguresininfinitum。
6。Endlessvarietyoffigures。Forthemindhavingapowertorepeattheideaofanylengthdirectlystretchedout,andjoinittoanotherinthesamedirection,whichistodoublethelengthofthatstraightline;orelsejoinanotherwithwhatinclinationitthinksfit,andsomakewhatsortofangleitpleases:andbeingablealsotoshortenanylineitimagines,bytakingfromitonehalf,onefourth,orwhatpartitpleases,withoutbeingabletocometoanendofanysuchdivisions,itcanmakeanangleofanybigness。Soalsothelinesthatareitssides,ofwhatlengthitpleases,whichjoiningagaintootherlines,ofdifferentlengths,andatdifferentangles,tillithaswhollyenclosedanyspace,itisevidentthatitcanmultiplyfigures,bothintheirshapeandcapacity,ininfinitum;allwhicharebutsomanydifferentsimplemodesofspace。
Thesamethatitcandowithstraightlines,itcanalsodowithcrooked,orcrookedandstraighttogether;andthesameitcandoinlines,itcanalsoinsuperficies;bywhichwemaybeledintofartherthoughtsoftheendlessvarietyoffiguresthatthemindhasapowertomake,andtherebytomultiplythesimplemodesofspace。
7。Place。Anotherideacomingunderthishead,andbelongingtothistribe,isthatwecallplace。Asinsimplespace,weconsidertherelationofdistancebetweenanytwobodiesorpoints;soinourideaofplace,weconsidertherelationofdistancebetwixtanything,andanytwoormorepoints,whichareconsideredaskeepingthesamedistanceonewithanother,andsoconsideredasatrest。Forwhenwefindanythingatthesamedistancenowwhichitwasyesterday,fromanytwoormorepoints,whichhavenotsincechangedtheirdistanceonewithanother,andwithwhichwethencomparedit,wesayithathkeptthesameplace:butifithathsensiblyaltereditsdistancewitheitherofthosepoints,wesayithathchangeditsplace:though,vulgarlyspeaking,inthecommonnotionofplace,wedonotalwaysexactlyobservethedistancefromtheseprecisepoints,butfromlargerportionsofsensibleobjects,towhichweconsiderthethingplacedtobearrelation,anditsdistancefromwhichwehavesomereasontoobserve。
8。Placerelativetoparticularbodies。Thus,acompanyofchess-men,standingonthesamesquaresofthechess-boardwhereweleftthem,wesaytheyareallinthesameplace,orunmoved,thoughperhapsthechess-boardhathbeeninthemeantimecarriedoutofoneroomintoanother;becausewecomparedthemonlytothepartsofthechess-board,whichkeepthesamedistanceonewithanother。Thechess-board,wealsosay,isinthesameplaceitwas,ifitremaininthesamepartofthecabin,thoughperhapstheshipwhichitisinsailsallthewhile。Andtheshipissaidtobeinthesameplace,supposingitkeptthesamedistancewiththepartsoftheneighbouringland;thoughperhapstheearthhathturnedround,andsobothchess-men,andboard,andship,haveeveryonechangedplace,inrespectofremoterbodies,whichhavekeptthesamedistanceonewithanother。Butyetthedistancefromcertainpartsoftheboardbeingthatwhichdeterminestheplaceofthechessmen;andthedistancefromthefixedpartsofthecabin(withwhichwemadethecomparison)beingthatwhichdeterminedtheplaceofthechess-board;andthefixedpartsoftheearththatbywhichwedeterminedtheplaceoftheship,-thesethingsmaybesaidtobeinthesameplaceinthoserespects:thoughtheirdistancefromsomeotherthings,whichinthismatterwedidnotconsider,beingvaried,theyhaveundoubtedlychangedplaceinthatrespect;andweourselvesshallthinkso,whenwehaveoccasiontocomparethemwiththoseother。
9。Placerelativetoapresentpurpose。Butthismodificationofdistancewecallplace,beingmadebymenfortheircommonuse,thatbyittheymightbeabletodesigntheparticularpositionofthings,wheretheyhadoccasionforsuchdesignation;menconsideranddetermineofthisplacebyreferencetothoseadjacentthingswhichbestservedtotheirpresentpurpose,withoutconsideringotherthingswhich,toanotherpurpose,wouldbetterdeterminetheplaceofthesamething。Thusinthechess-board,theuseofthedesignationoftheplaceofeachchess-manbeingdeterminedonlywithinthatchequeredpieceofwood,itwouldcrossthatpurposetomeasureitbyanythingelse;butwhentheseverychess-menareputupinabag,ifanyoneshouldaskwheretheblackkingis,itwouldbepropertodeterminetheplacebythepartoftheroomitwasin,andnotbythechess-board;therebeinganotheruseofdesigningtheplaceitisnowin,thanwheninplayitwasonthechess-board,andsomustbedeterminedbyotherbodies。Soifanyoneshouldask,inwhatplacearetheverseswhichreportthestoryofNisusandEuryalus,itwouldbeveryimpropertodeterminethisplace,bysaying,theywereinsuchapartoftheearth,orinBodley’slibrary:buttherightdesignationoftheplacewouldbebythepartsofVirgil’sworks;
andtheproperanswerwouldbe,thattheseverseswereaboutthemiddleoftheninthbookofhisAEneids,andthattheyhavebeenalwaysconstantlyinthesameplaceeversinceVirgilwasprinted:
whichistrue,thoughthebookitselfhathmovedathousandtimes,theuseoftheideaofplaceherebeing,toknowinwhatpartofthebookthatstoryis,thatso,uponoccasion,wemayknowwheretofindit,andhaverecoursetoitforuse。
10。Placeoftheuniverse。ThatourideaofplaceisnothingelsebutsucharelativepositionofanythingasIhavebeforementioned,I
thinkisplain,andwillbeeasilyadmitted,whenweconsiderthatwecanhavenoideaoftheplaceoftheuniverse,thoughwecanofallthepartsofit;becausebeyondthatwehavenottheideaofanyfixed,distinct,particularbeings,inreferencetowhichwecanimagineittohaveanyrelationofdistance;butallbeyonditisoneuniformspaceorexpansion,whereinthemindfindsnovariety,nomarks。Fortosaythattheworldissomewhere,meansnomorethanthatitdoesexist;this,thoughaphraseborrowedfromplace,signifyingonlyitsexistence,notlocation:andwhenonecanfindout,andframeinhismind,clearlyanddistinctly,theplaceoftheuniverse,hewillbeabletotelluswhetheritmovesorstandsstillintheundistinguishableinaneofinfinitespace:thoughitbetruethatthewordplacehassometimesamoreconfusedsense,andstandsforthatspacewhichanybodytakesup;andsotheuniverseisinaplace。
Theidea,therefore,ofplacewehavebythesamemeansthatwegettheideaofspace,(whereofthisisbutaparticularlimitedconsideration,)viz,byoursightandtouch;byeitherofwhichwereceiveintoourmindstheideasofextensionordistance。
11。Extensionandbodynotthesame。Therearesomethatwouldpersuadeus,thatbodyandextensionarethesamething,whoeitherchangethesignificationofwords,whichIwouldnotsuspectthemof,-
theyhavingsoseverelycondemnedthephilosophyofothers,becauseithathbeentoomuchplacedintheuncertainmeaning,ordeceitfulobscurityofdoubtfulorinsignificantterms。If,therefore,theymeanbybodyandextensionthesamethatotherpeopledo,viz。bybodysomethingthatissolidandextended,whosepartsareseparableandmovabledifferentways;andbyextension,onlythespacethatliesbetweentheextremitiesofthosesolidcoherentparts,andwhichispossessedbythem,-theyconfoundverydifferentideasonewithanother;forIappealtoeveryman’sownthoughtswhethertheideaofspacebenotasdistinctfromthatofsolidity,asitisfromtheideaofscarletcolour?Itistrue,soliditycannotexistwithoutextension,neithercanscarletcolourexistwithoutextension,butthishindersnot,butthattheyaredistinctideas。Manyideasrequireothers,asnecessarytotheirexistenceorconception,whichyetareverydistinctideas。Motioncanneitherbe,norbeconceived,withoutspace;andyetmotionisnotspace,norspacemotion;spacecanexistwithoutit,andtheyareverydistinctideas;andso,I
think,arethoseofspaceandsolidity。Solidityissoinseparableanideafrombody,thatuponthatdependsitsfillingofspace,itscontact,impulse,andcommunicationofmotionuponimpulse。Andifitbeareasontoprovethatspiritisdifferentfrombody,becausethinkingincludesnottheideaofextensioninit;thesamereasonwillbeasvalid,Isuppose,toprovethatspaceisnotbody,becauseitincludesnottheideaofsolidityinit;spaceandsoliditybeingasdistinctideasasthinkingandextension,andaswhollyseparableinthemindonefromanother。Bodythenandextension,itisevident,aretwodistinctideas。For,12。Extensionnotsolidity。First,Extensionincludesnosolidity,norresistancetothemotionofbody,asbodydoes。
13。Thepartsofspaceinseparable,bothreallyandmentally。
Secondly,Thepartsofpurespaceareinseparableonefromtheother;sothatthecontinuitycannotbeseparated,neitherreallynormentally。ForIdemandofanyonetoremoveanypartofitfromanother,withwhichitiscontinued,evensomuchasinthought。Todivideandseparateactuallyis,asIthink,byremovingthepartsonefromanother,tomaketwosuperficies,wherebeforetherewasacontinuity:andtodividementallyis,tomakeinthemindtwosuperficies,wherebeforetherewasacontinuity,andconsiderthemasremovedonefromtheother;whichcanonlybedoneinthingsconsideredbythemindascapableofbeingseparated;andbyseparation,ofacquiringnewdistinctsuperficies,whichtheythenhavenot,butarecapableofButneitherofthesewaysofseparation,whetherrealormental,is,asIthink,compatibletopurespace。
Itistrue,amanmayconsidersomuchofsuchaspaceasisanswerableorcommensuratetoafoot,withoutconsideringtherest,whichis,indeed,apartialconsideration,butnotsomuchasmentalseparationordivision;sinceamancannomorementallydivide,withoutconsideringtwosuperficiesseparateonefromtheother,thanhecanactuallydivide,withoutmakingtwosuperficiesdisjoinedonefromtheother:butapartialconsiderationisnotseparating。Amanmayconsiderlightinthesunwithoutitsheat,ormobilityinbodywithoutitsextension,withoutthinkingoftheirseparation。Oneisonlyapartialconsideration,terminatinginonealone;andtheotherisaconsiderationofboth,asexistingseparately。
14。Thepartsofspace,immovable。Thirdly,Thepartsofpurespaceareimmovable,whichfollowsfromtheirinseparability;motionbeingnothingbutchangeofdistancebetweenanytwothings;butthiscannotbebetweenpartsthatareinseparable,which,therefore,mustneedsbeatperpetualrestoneamongstanother。
Thusthedeterminedideaofsimplespacedistinguishesitplainlyandsufficientlyfrombody;sinceitspartsareinseparable,immovable,andwithoutresistancetothemotionofbody。
15。Thedefinitionofextensionexplainsitnot。IfanyoneaskmewhatthisspaceIspeakofis,Iwilltellhimwhenhetellsmewhathisextensionis。Fortosay,asisusuallydone,thatextensionistohavepartesextrapartes,istosayonly,thatextensionisextension。
ForwhatamIthebetterinformedinthenatureofextension,whenI
amtoldthatextensionistohavepartsthatareextended,exteriortopartsthatareextended,i。e。extensionconsistsofextendedparts?Asifone,askingwhatafibrewas,Ishouldanswerhim,-thatitwasathingmadeupofseveralfibres。Wouldhetherebybeenabledtounderstandwhatafibrewasbetterthanhedidbefore?Orrather,wouldhenothavereasontothinkthatmydesignwastomakesportwithhim,ratherthanseriouslytoinstructhim?
16。Divisionofbeingsintobodiesandspiritsprovesnotspaceandbodythesame。Thosewhocontendthatspaceandbodyarethesame,bringthisdilemma:-eitherthisspaceissomethingornothing;ifnothingbebetweentwobodies,theymustnecessarilytouch;ifitbeallowedtobesomething,theyask,Whetheritbebodyorspirit?TowhichIanswerbyanotherquestion,Whotoldthemthattherewas,orcouldbe,nothingbutsolidbeings,whichcouldnotthink,andthinkingbeingsthatwerenotextended?-whichisalltheymeanbythetermsbodyandspirit。
17。Substancewhichweknownot,noproofagainstspacewithoutbody。Ifitbedemanded(asusuallyitis)whetherthisspace,voidofbody,besubstanceoraccident,IshallreadilyanswerIknownot;norshallbeashamedtoownmyignorance,tilltheythataskshowmeacleardistinctideaofsubstance。
18。Differentmeaningsofsubstance。IendeavourasmuchasIcantodelivermyselffromthosefallacieswhichweareapttoputuponourselves,bytakingwordsforthings。Ithelpsnotourignorancetofeignaknowledgewherewehavenone,bymakinganoisewithsounds,withoutclearanddistinctsignifications。Namesmadeatpleasure,neitheralterthenatureofthings,normakeusunderstandthem,butastheyaresignsofandstandfordeterminedideas。AndIdesirethosewholaysomuchstressonthesoundofthesetwosyllables,substance,toconsiderwhetherapplyingit,astheydo,totheinfinite,incomprehensibleGod,tofinitespirits,andtobody,itbeinthesamesense;andwhetheritstandsforthesameidea,wheneachofthosethreesodifferentbeingsarecalledsubstances。Ifso,whetheritwillthencefollow-thatGod,spirits,andbody,agreeinginthesamecommonnatureofsubstance,differnotanyotherwisethaninabaredifferentmodificationofthatsubstance;
asatreeandapebble,beinginthesamesensebody,andagreeinginthecommonnatureofbody,differonlyinabaremodificationofthatcommonmatter,whichwillbeaveryharshdoctrine。Iftheysay,thattheyapplyittoGod,finitespirit,andmatter,inthreedifferentsignificationsandthatitstandsforoneideawhenGodissaidtobeasubstance;foranotherwhenthesouliscalledsubstance;
andforathirdwhenbodyiscalledso;-ifthenamesubstancestandsforthreeseveraldistinctideas,theywoulddowelltomakeknownthosedistinctideas,oratleasttogivethreedistinctnamestothem,topreventinsoimportantanotiontheconfusionanderrorsthatwillnaturallyfollowfromthepromiscuoususeofsodoubtfulaterm;whichissofarfrombeingsuspectedtohavethreedistinct,thatinordinaryuseithasscarceonecleardistinctsignification。Andiftheycanthusmakethreedistinctideasofsubstance,whathinderswhyanothermaynotmakeafourth?
19。Substanceandaccidentsoflittleuseinphilosophy。Theywhofirstranintothenotionofaccidents,asasortofrealbeingsthatneededsomethingtoinherein,wereforcedtofindoutthewordsubstancetosupportthem。HadthepoorIndianphilosopher(whoimaginedthattheearthalsowantedsomethingtobearitup)butthoughtofthiswordsubstance,heneedednottohavebeenatthetroubletofindanelephanttosupportit,andatortoisetosupporthiselephant:thewordsubstancewouldhavedoneiteffectually。AndhethatinquiredmighthavetakenitforasgoodananswerfromanIndianphilosopher,-thatsubstance,withoutknowingwhatitis,isthatwhichsupportstheearth,aswetakeitforasufficientanswerandgooddoctrinefromourEuropeanphilosophers,-thatsubstance,withoutknowingwhatitis,isthatwhichsupportsaccidents。Sothatofsubstance,wehavenoideaofwhatitis,butonlyaconfused,obscureoneofwhatitdoes。
20。Stickingonandunder-propping。Whateveralearnedmanmaydohere,anintelligentAmerican,whoinquiredintothenatureofthings,wouldscarcetakeitforasatisfactoryaccount,if,desiringtolearnourarchitecture,heshouldbetoldthatapillarisathingsupportedbyabasis,andabasissomethingthatsupportedapillar。Wouldhenotthinkhimselfmocked,insteadoftaught,withsuchanaccountasthis?Andastrangertothemwouldbeveryliberallyinstructedinthenatureofbooks,andthethingstheycontained,ifheshouldbetoldthatalllearnedbooksconsistedofpaperandletters,andthatletterswerethingsinheringinpaper,andpaperathingthatheldforthletters:anotablewayofhavingclearideasoflettersandpaper。ButweretheLatinwords,inhaerentiaandsubstantio,putintotheplainEnglishonesthatanswerthem,andwerecalledstickingonandunder-propping,theywouldbetterdiscovertoustheverygreatclearnessthereisinthedoctrineofsubstanceandaccidents,andshowofwhatusetheyareindecidingofquestionsinphilosophy。
21。Avacuumbeyondtheutmostboundsofbody。Buttoreturntoourideaofspace。Ifbodybenotsupposedinfinite,(whichIthinknoonewillaffirm),Iwouldask,whether,ifGodplacedamanattheextremityofcorporealbeings,hecouldnotstretchhishandbeyondhisbody?Ifhecould,thenhewouldputhisarmwheretherewasbeforespacewithoutbody;andiftherehespreadhisfingers,therewouldstillbespacebetweenthemwithoutbody。Ifhecouldnotstretchouthishand,itmustbebecauseofsomeexternalhindrance;
(forwesupposehimalive,withsuchapowerofmovingthepartsofhisbodythathehathnow,whichisnotinitselfimpossible,ifGodsopleasedtohaveit;oratleastitisnotimpossibleforGodsotomovehim):andthenIask,-whetherthatwhichhindershishandfrommovingoutwardsbesubstanceoraccident,somethingornothing?
Andwhentheyhaveresolvedthat,theywillbeabletoresolvethemselves,-whatthatis,whichisormaybebetweentwobodiesatadistance,thatisnotbody,andhasnosolidity。Inthemeantime,theargumentisatleastasgood,that,wherenothinghinders,(asbeyondtheutmostboundsofallbodies),abodyputinmotionmaymoveon,aswherethereisnothingbetween,theretwobodiesmustnecessarilytouch。Forpurespacebetweenissufficienttotakeawaythenecessityofmutualcontact;butbarespaceinthewayisnotsufficienttostopmotion。Thetruthis,thesemenmusteitherownthattheythinkbodyinfinite,thoughtheyarelothtospeakitout,orelseaffirmthatspaceisnotbody。ForIwouldfainmeetwiththatthinkingmanthatcaninhisthoughtssetanyboundstospace,morethanhecantoduration;orbythinkinghopetoarriveattheendofeither。Andtherefore,ifhisideaofeternitybeinfinite,soishisideaofimmensity;theyarebothfiniteorinfinitealike。
22。Thepowerofannihilationprovesavacuum。Farther,thosewhoasserttheimpossibilityofspaceexistingwithoutmatter,mustnotonlymakebodyinfinite,butmustalsodenyapowerinGodtoannihilateanypartofmatter。Noone,Isuppose,willdenythatGodcanputanendtoallmotionthatisinmatter,andfixallthebodiesoftheuniverseinaperfectquietandrest,andcontinuethemsolongashepleases。WhoeverthenwillallowthatGodcan,duringsuchageneralrest,annihilateeitherthisbookorthebodyofhimthatreadsit,mustnecessarilyadmitthepossibilityofavacuum。For,itisevidentthatthespacethatwasfilledbythepartsoftheannihilatedbodywillstillremain,andbeaspacewithoutbody。Forthecircumambientbodiesbeinginperfectrest,areawallofadamant,andinthatstatemakeitaperfectimpossibilityforanyotherbodytogetintothatspace。Andindeedthenecessarymotionofoneparticleofmatterintotheplacefromwhenceanotherparticleofmatterisremoved,isbutaconsequencefromthesuppositionofplenitude;whichwillthereforeneedsomebetterproofthanasupposedmatteroffact,whichexperimentcannevermakeout;-ourownclearanddistinctideasplainlysatisfyingus,thatthereisnonecessaryconnexionbetweenspaceandsolidity,sincewecanconceivetheonewithouttheother。Andthosewhodisputefororagainstavacuum,dotherebyconfesstheyhavedistinctideasofvacuumandplenum,i。e。
thattheyhaveanideaofextensionvoidofsolidity,thoughtheydenyitsexistence;orelsetheydisputeaboutnothingatall。Fortheywhosomuchalterthesignificationofwords,astocallextensionbody,andconsequentlymakethewholeessenceofbodytobenothingbutpureextensionwithoutsolidity,musttalkabsurdlywhenevertheyspeakofvacuum;sinceitisimpossibleforextensiontobewithoutextension。Forvacuum,whetherweaffirmordenyitsexistence,signifiesspacewithoutbody;whoseveryexistencenoonecandenytobepossible,whowillnotmakematterinfinite,andtakefromGodapowertoannihilateanyparticleofit。
23。Motionprovesavacuum。Butnottogosofarasbeyondtheutmostboundsofbodyintheuniverse,norappealtoGod’somnipotencytofindavacuum,themotionofbodiesthatareinourviewandneighbourhoodseemstomeplainlytoevinceit。ForIdesireanyonesotodivideasolidbody,ofanydimensionhepleases,astomakeitpossibleforthesolidpartstomoveupanddownfreelyeverywaywithintheboundsofthatsuperficies,iftherebenotleftinitavoidspaceasbigastheleastpartintowhichhehasdividedthesaidsolidbody。Andif,wheretheleastparticleofthebodydividedisasbigasamustard-seed,avoidspaceequaltothebulkofamustard-seedberequisitetomakeroomforthefreemotionofthepartsofthedividedbodywithintheboundsofitssuperficies,wheretheparticlesofmatterare100,000,000lessthanamustard-seed,theremustalsobeaspacevoidofsolidmatterasbigas100,000,000partofamustard-seed;forifitholdintheoneitwillholdintheother,andsoonininfinitum。Andletthisvoidspacebeaslittleasitwill,itdestroysthehypothesisofplenitude。Foriftherecanbeaspacevoidofbodyequaltothesmallestseparateparticleofmatternowexistinginnature,itisstillspacewithoutbody;andmakesasgreatadifferencebetweenspaceandbodyasifitweremegachasma,adistanceaswideasanyinnature。Andtherefore,ifwesupposenotthevoidspacenecessarytomotionequaltotheleastparcelofthedividedsolidmatter,butto1/10or1/1000ofit,thesameconsequencewillalwaysfollowofspacewithoutmatter。
24。Theideasofspaceandbodydistinct。Butthequestionbeinghere,-Whethertheideaofspaceorextensionbethesamewiththeideaofbody?itisnotnecessarytoprovetherealexistenceofavacuum,buttheideaofit;whichitisplainmenhavewhentheyinquireanddisputewhethertherebeavacuumorno。Foriftheyhadnottheideaofspacewithoutbody,theycouldnotmakeaquestionaboutitsexistence:andiftheirideaofbodydidnotincludeinitsomethingmorethanthebareideaofspace,theycouldhavenodoubtabouttheplenitudeoftheworld;anditwouldbeasabsurdtodemand,whethertherewerespacewithoutbody,aswhethertherewerespacewithoutspace,orbodywithoutbody,sincethesewerebutdifferentnamesofthesameidea。
25。Extensionbeinginseparablefrombody,provesitnotthesame。
Itistrue,theideaofextensionjoinsitselfsoinseparablywithallvisible,andmosttangiblequalities,thatitsuffersustoseenoone,orfeelveryfewexternalobjects,withouttakinginimpressionsofextensiontoo。Thisreadinessofextensiontomakeitselfbetakennoticeofsoconstantlywithotherideas,hasbeentheoccasion,Iguess,thatsomehavemadethewholeessenceofbodytoconsistinextension;whichisnotmuchtobewonderedat,sincesomehavehadtheirminds,bytheireyesandtouch,(thebusiestofalloursenses,)sofilledwiththeideaofextension,and,asitwere,whollypossessedwithit,thattheyallowednoexistencetoanythingthathadnotextension。Ishallnotnowarguewiththosemen,whotakethemeasureandpossibilityofallbeingonlyfromtheirnarrowandgrossimaginations:buthavingheretodoonlywiththosewhoconcludetheessenceofbodytobeextension,becausetheysaytheycannotimagineanysensiblequalityofanybodywithoutextension,-Ishalldesirethemtoconsider,that,hadtheyreflectedontheirideasoftastesandsmellsasmuchasonthoseofsightandtouch;nay,hadtheyexaminedtheirideasofhungerandthirst,andseveralotherpains,theywouldhavefoundthattheyincludedinthemnoideaofextensionatall,whichisbutanaffectionofbody,aswellastherest,discoverablebyoursenses,whicharescarceacuteenoughtolookintothepureessencesofthings。
26。Essencesofthings。Ifthoseideaswhichareconstantlyjoinedtoallothers,mustthereforebeconcludedtobetheessenceofthosethingswhichhaveconstantlythoseideasjoinedtothem,andareinseparablefromthem;thenunityiswithoutdoubttheessenceofeverything。Forthereisnotanyobjectofsensationorreflectionwhichdoesnotcarrywithittheideaofone:buttheweaknessofthiskindofargumentwehavealreadyshownsufficiently。
27。Ideasofspaceandsoliditydistinct。Toconclude:whatevermenshallthinkconcerningtheexistenceofavacuum,thisisplaintome-thatwehaveasclearanideaofspacedistinctfromsolidity,aswehaveofsoliditydistinctfrommotion,ormotionfromspace。
Wehavenotanytwomoredistinctideas;andwecanaseasilyconceivespacewithoutsolidity,aswecanconceivebodyorspacewithoutmotion,thoughitbeneversocertainthatneitherbodynormotioncanexistwithoutspace。Butwhetheranyonewilltakespacetobeonlyarelationresultingfromtheexistenceofotherbeingsatadistance;
orwhethertheywillthinkthewordsofthemostknowingKingSolomon,\"Theheaven,andtheheavenofheavens,cannotcontainthee\";orthosemoreemphaticalonesoftheinspiredphilosopherSt。Paul,\"Inhimwelive,move,andhaveourbeing,\"aretobeunderstoodinaliteralsense,Ileaveeveryonetoconsider:onlyourideaofspaceis,Ithink,suchasIhavementioned,anddistinctfromthatofbody。
For,whetherweconsider,inmatteritself,thedistanceofitscoherentsolidparts,andcallit,inrespectofthosesolidparts,extension;orwhether,consideringitaslyingbetweentheextremitiesofanybodyinitsseveraldimensions,wecallitlength,breadth,andthickness;orelse,consideringitaslyingbetweenanytwobodiesorpositivebeings,withoutanyconsiderationwhethertherebeanymatterornotbetween,wecallitdistance;-howevernamedorconsidered,itisalwaysthesameuniformsimpleideaofspace,takenfromobjectsaboutwhichoursenseshavebeenconversant;
whereof,havingsettledideasinourminds,wecanrevive,repeat,andaddthemonetoanotherasoftenaswewill,andconsiderthespaceordistancesoimagined,eitherasfilledwithsolidparts,sothatanotherbodycannotcometherewithoutdisplacingandthrustingoutthebodythatwastherebefore;orelseasvoidofsolidity,sothatabodyofequaldimensionstothatemptyorpurespacemaybeplacedinit,withouttheremovingorexpulsionofanythingthatwasthere。
But,toavoidconfusionindiscoursesconcerningthismatter,itwerepossiblytobewishedthatthenameextensionwereappliedonlytomatter,orthedistanceoftheextremitiesofparticularbodies;
andthetermexpansiontospaceingeneral,withorwithoutsolidmatterpossessingit,-soastosayspaceisexpandedandbodyextended。Butinthiseveryonehashisliberty:Iproposeitonlyforthemoreclearanddistinctwayofspeaking。
28。Mendifferlittleinclear,simpleideas。Theknowingpreciselywhatourwordsstandfor,would,Iimagine,inthisaswellasagreatmanyothercases,quicklyendthedispute。ForIamapttothinkthatmen,whentheycometoexaminethem,findtheirsimpleideasallgenerallytoagree,thoughindiscoursewithoneanothertheyperhapsconfoundoneanotherwithdifferentnames。I
imaginethatmenwhoabstracttheirthoughts,anddowellexaminetheideasoftheirownminds,cannotmuchdifferinthinking;
howevertheymayperplexthemselveswithwords,accordingtothewayofspeakingtotheseveralschoolsorsectstheyhavebeenbredupin:
thoughamongstunthinkingmen,whoexaminenotscrupulouslyandcarefullytheirownideas,andstripthemnotfromthemarksmenuseforthem,butconfoundthemwithwords,theremustbeendlessdispute,wrangling,andjargon;especiallyiftheybelearned,bookishmen,devotedtosomesect,andaccustomedtothelanguageofit,andhavelearnedtotalkafterothers。Butifitshouldhappenthatanytwothinkingmenshouldreallyhavedifferentideas,Idonotseehowtheycoulddiscourseorarguewithanother。HereImustnotbemistaken,tothinkthateveryfloatingimaginationinmen’sbrainsispresentlyofthatsortofideasIspeakof。Itisnoteasyforthemindtoputoffthoseconfusednotionsandprejudicesithasimbibedfromcustom,inadvertency,andcommonconversation。Itrequirespainsandassiduitytoexamineitsideas,tillitresolvesthemintothoseclearanddistinctsimpleones,outofwhichtheyarecompounded;andtoseewhich,amongstitssimpleones,haveorhavenotanecessaryconnexionanddependenceoneuponanother。Tillamandoththisintheprimaryandoriginalnotionsofthings,hebuildsuponfloatinganduncertainprinciples,andwilloftenfindhimselfataloss。