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ROBERT
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IN
CHIEF
LOCKE
BERKELEY
HUME
MORTIMER
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is
reprinted
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arrangement with D.
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ING.Copyright,
1937,by
D.
APPLETON-CENTURY
COMPANY,
INC.An
Essay
ConcerningHuman
Understanding^by
John
Locke,
isreprinted
from
the edition collated
and
annotated
by
Alexander
Campbell
Fraser
and
published
t>y
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
An
Enquiry
ConcerningHuman
Understanding,by David
Hume,
edited
by
L.
A. Selby-Bigge,
isreprinted
by
arrangement with
OXFORD
UNIVERSITY PRESS
COPYRIGHT
INTHE
UNITED
STATES
OP
AMERICA, 1952,
BY
ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRTTANNICA,
INC.
UNDER
INTERNATIONAL
COGHT
UNION
BY
BRITANNICA,
B*C.AlX
RIGHTS
RESERVED
UNDER PAN
AMERICAN
GENERAL CONTENTS
A
LETTER
CONCERNING
TOLERATION,
Page
iCONCERNING
CIVIL
GOVERNMENT,
SECOND
ESSAY,
Page 25
AN
ESSAY
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING,
Page 85
By JOHN LOCKE
THE
PRINCIPLES
OF
HUMAN
KNOWLEDGE,
Page
403
By GEORGE
BERKELEY
AN
ENQUIRY
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING,
Page
451
AN
ENQUIRY
CONCERNING
HUMAN
BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE
DAVID HUME,
1711-1776
HUME
was born
atEdinburgh on
April26,171 1,the
younger
soninagood
but not wealthyfam-ily.Hisfather,
"who
passedfora
man
of parts,"died
when
Hume
was
stillachild,and he was
brought
up
by
hismother
atthefamilyestateofNinewells,near Berwick.
About
1723he
enteredtheUniversityofEdinburgh, and, accordingto
hisAutobiography,"passed through the ordinary
course ofeducation with success." His letters
show
thatwhen
he returnedtoNinewells aboutthree yearslater
he
had
acquireda
fairknowl-edgeof Latin, slightacquaintance with Greek,
and a
literary tasteinclining to "booksofrea-soning
and
philosophy,and
to poetryand
thepoliteauthors."Hisstudious disposition ledhis
familyto believethat
law
was
the properpro-fessionforhim, but
he
"foundan
insurmount-able aversion toeverything butthe pursuits of
philosophy
and
general learning;and
whilethey fanciedI
was
poringupon
Voet
and
Vin-nius, Cicero
and
Virgilwere
theauthorswhich
I
was
secretlydevouring."A
too "ardent application" to his studiesthreatenedhishealth,
and
in 1734,determinedto trya complete
change
ofsceneand
occupa-tion,
Hume
entered abusinesshouseinBristol.In a
few months
he found "the scene totallyunsuitable,"
and he
setoutforFrance,resolved"to
make
a veryrigidfrugalitysupplymy
defi-ciencyof fortune, tomaintain
unimpaired
my
independency,
and
to regard every object ascontemptible, except the
improvement
ofmy
talentsinliterature."
He
visited Paris, residedfor
a
timeatRheims, and
then settled atLa
FISche,
where
Descarteshad gone
to school.During
histhree years inFrance he wrote theTreatiseofHitmanNature,
and
in 1737 returned toLondon
toattend toits publication. Itap-pearedin three
volumes
during 1739-40.
Con-trary to his expectations, his first effort "fell
dead-born
from
thepress,without reaching suchdistinction as
even
toexcitea
murmur
among
the zealots."
Upon
thefailureofhisbook
Hume
retired toNinewells
and
devotedhimself to study,mainlyinpolitics
and
economics. In 1741he
published thefirstvolume
ofhisEssays,Moral
andPolitical,which
enjoyed suchsuccessthat a secondedi-tion
was
brought outthe following year.At
thattime he alsoissued a second
volume
ofessays.He
continuedtolookaboutforaposition thatwould
securehim
independence,and
in 1744triedhard toobtainthe chair of
moral
philos-ophy
atEdinburgh. Failing inthisattempt,he
accepted the post of tutor to the
Marquis
ofAnnandale,
who
had
been declared a lunaticby
thecourt.Upon
his dismissal a yearlater,Hume
accepted theofficeofsecretary toGen-eral St. Clair,
a
distantrelative,who
was
en-gaged
inan
"expeditionwhich
was
at firstmeant
againstCanada,
butended
inan
incur-sion
on
the coast ofFrance."After thefailureofthisventurehe
accompanied
the generalon a
"military
embassy
to thecourtsofVienna
and
Turin"
on which
he"wore
theuniform ofan
officer
and was
introduced at these courts asaide-de-camptothe general."
He
remarksthatthese
two
years (1746-48),"almosttheonlyin-terruption
which
my
studieshave
receiveddur-ingthe course of
my
life,"enabledhim
toreturntoScotland"masterofnear
a
thousand pounds,"During
hisabsencefrom England
in1748hisPhilosophical Essays
was
published. Afterwardsentitled
An
EnquiryconcerningHuman
Understand"ing, it
was
are-casting of the firstpartoftheTreatise
by which
hehoped
togaina
largerau-dience.
But
thefirstreception of thework
was
little
more
favorablethanthataccordedtotheTreatise.In1751here-castthe third
book
oftheTreatise
and
publisheditasAn
Enquiryconcerning thePrinciples ofMorals.That same
year hewas
againunsuccessful in his attempt to obtain
a
professor'schair atEdinburgh,thistimeasthe
successor tohis friend,
Adam
Smith,inthechairoflogic.
The
following year, despite accusationsof heresy,
he
received the postoflibrarian attheAdvocates' Library,
which though
smallinsal-ary providedexcellentfacilitiesfor literarywork.
During
hisyearsaslibrarianHume
attainedhisgreatest successasa
man
ofletters.He
con-tinuedhisessays
and
in 1757 brought out theFour Dissertations,
one
ofwhich was
devoted totheNatural Historyof Religion.
The
Dialoguescon-cerningNaturalReligion
were
alsocompleted,but
on
the adviceof friends publicationwas
post-poned
untilafter hisdeath.Most
ofhisefforts,however,
were
devotedtothe writing ofhistory,to
which
hemay
have turnedhisattentionbe-causeofthe success ofhis political
and economic
essays.
Adam
Smith had
recommended
thathebegin with
Henry
VII, but he chose to startwiththeperiodof
James
I,"an
epoch when,
Ithought,the misrepresentations of faction
began
chiefly totake place."
Although
Hume
was
dis-appointed
by
the receptionofthefirstvolume,which
appearedin i753, hisHistoryofEnglandwas
well received,and
withina
few years itbroughtthe author
a
largerrevenue thanhad
ever before been obtainedinhiscountry
from
literature.
The
work was
completedby
1761,although
Hume
continuedtoreviseitthrough-out most of the
remainder
ofhislife, excisingfrom
itallthe "villainous seditiousWhig
strokes"and
"plaguy prejudices ofWhiggism"
that hecoulddetect.
Although "not
only independent butopu-lent.. .
and
determined nevermore
to setfootoutof* his native country,
Hume
in 1763ac-cepted
an
invitation togo
to Paris as actingsecretary of the embassy.
For
three years heenjoyedParisiansociety.
Meeting
withmen
and
women
ofallranksand
stations, he noted "themore
Iresiledfrom
theirexcessivecivilities,themore
Iwas
loaded with them."He
returnedhome,
convinced "thereisa
realsatisfactioninliving at Paris."
Rousseau accompanied
him,persuaded
by
Hume
toseekshelterinEngland.The
associationwas
of short duration;itended
in a violent
and
sensational quarrelforwhich
Rousseau
seemstohave been
largelytoblame.Hume,
after serving as undersecretary at theForeign Officefora year (1767-68), retired to
Edinburgh,
where he
builthimselfanew
house,and
settleddown
"withthe prospect of enjoying longmy
ease,and
of seeing the increase ofmy
reputation."
In
the spring of1775Hume
was
strickenwitha
troublesomethough
notpainfulillness.Pre-paring himselffor
"a
speedy dissolution," hewrote ashortautobiography,in
which
hedrew
his
own
character."Iam,"
hewrote,"orratherwas
(for that is the style, Imust
now
use inspeaking of myself;
which emboldens
me
themore
to speakray sentiments) Iwas, Isay, aman
ofmilddispositions, ofcommand
oftem-per,
and
ofan
open, social,and
cheerfulhu-mour,
capable of attachment, butlittlesuscep-tibleofenmity;
and
of greatmoderationinallmy
passions.Even
my
love ofliteraryfame,my
ruling passion, never soured
my
temper,not-withstanding
my
frequent disappointments."A
visittoBath
in1776seemed
atfirstto re-lieve his sickness, buton
the return journeymore
alarmingsymptoms
developed,hisstrengthrapidly sank, and, little
more
than amonth
CONTENTS:
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING
BIOGRAPHICALNOTE 447
i.
OF
THEDIFFERENT SPECIES OFPHILOSOPHY 451n.
OF
THE ORIGINOF IDEAS 455m.
OF
THEASSOCIATION OF IDEAS 457rv. SCEPTICALDOUBTS CONCERNING THE
OP-ERATIONS OFTHE UNDERSTANDING 458
v. SCEPTICALSOLUTION OFTHESEDOUBTS 463
vi.
OF
PROBABILITY 469vn.
OF
THE IDEA OFNECESSARYCONNEXION 470ft.vm.
OF
LIBERTY ANDNECESSITY 478EX.
OF
THE REASON OF ANIMALS 487x.
OF
MIRACLES 488XI.
OF
APARTICULAR PROVIDENCE ANDOFAFUTURE STATE 497
XH.
OF
THE ACADEMICAL ORSCEPTICALPHI-LOSOPHY
53
Most ofthe principles,andreasonings, contained inthis volume, were publishedinaworkinthreevolumes, called
A
TreatiseofHuman
Nature:A
workwhichtheAu-thorhadprojected before he left College, andwhich he
wroteandpublishednot longafter.Butnot findingit suc-cessful,hewassensibleofhis error ingoingto thepresstoo early,andhecast thewholeanewin thefollowingpieces,
where somenegligencesin hisformerreasoningandmorein the expression,are,hehopes,corrected.Tetseveral writers,
whohavehonouredtheAuthor's Philosophy withanswers,
have taken care todirect all their batteriesagainst that juvenilework, whichtheAuthorneveracknowledged,and
have affectedto triumph in anyadvantages, which, they
imagined,theyhadobtained overit:
A
practice very con-traryto allrulesof candourandfair-dealing,andastrong instanceofthosepolemicalartifices,whichabigotted zeal thinksitselfauthorizedtoemploy. Henceforth, theAuthordesires,that thefollowingPiecesmayalone beregarded as
containinghis philosophical sentimentsandprinciples.
AN
ENQUIRY
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING
Sect. I.
Of
thedifferentSpecies of Philosophy1.
Moral
philosophy, or the scienceofhuman
nature,
may
betreatedaftertwo
differentman-ners;each of
which
hasitspeculiar merit,and
may
contribute to the entertainment,instruc-tion,
and
reformationofmankind.
The
one
con-sidersman
chieflyasbornforaction;and
asin-fluenced inhismeasures
by
tasteand
sentiment;pursuing
one
object,and
avoidinganother,ac-cordingto thevalue
which
these objectsseem
topossess,
and
accordingto thelightinwhich
theypresentthemselves.
As
virtue,ofallobjects,isal-lowed
tobe
themost
valuable, this species ofphilosopherspaint herinthe
most
amiablecol-ours;borrowingallhelps
from
poetryand
elo-quence,
and
treatingtheirsubject hian
easyand
obvious
manner, and
such as is best fitted toplease the imagination,
and
engage theaffec-tions.
They
selectthemost
strikingobservationsand
instancesfrom
common
life;place oppositecharacters hia propercontrast;
and
alluringusinto thepaths ofvirtue
by
theviewsof gloryand
happiness,directourstepsinthesepaths
by
thesoundestprecepts
and most
illustriousexamples.They make
us/w/
the differencebetween
viceand
virtue; theyexciteand
regulateoursenti-ments;
and
sotheycan
butbend
ourhearts tothelove ofprobity
and
truehonour, theythink,thatthey
have
fullyattainedtheend
ofalltheirlabours.
2.
The
otherspeciesof philosophers considersman
inthelightofa reasonableratherthanan
active being,
and
endeavourstoform
hisunder-standing
more
thancultivate hismanners.They
regard
human
nature asa
subject ofspecula-tion;
and with a narrow
scrutinyexamine
it,inordertofind thoseprinciples,
which
regulateourunderstanding,exciteoursentiments,
and
make
us
approve
orblame any
particularobject, ac-tion,or behaviour.They
thinkita
reproachtoallliterature,thatphilosophy should notyet
have
fixed,beyoiklcontroversy,
thefoundationofmor-als,reasoning,
and
criticism;and
shouldforevertalkof truth
and
falsehood, viceand
virtue,beau-ty
and
deformity, without beingable todeter-mine
thesource of thesedistinctions.While
theyattemptthisarduoustask,theyaredeterred
by
no
difficulties;but proceedingfrom
particularinstances to generalprinciples,theystill
push on
theirenquiries to principles
more
general,and
restnotsatisfiedtilltheyarriveatthose original principles,
by
which,ineveryscience,allhuman
curiosity
must
bebounded.Though
theirspec-ulations
seem
abstract,and
evenunintelligibleto
common
readers, theyaim
attheapproba-tionof the learned
and
the wise;and
thinkthem-selves sufficiently
compensated
forthelabouroftheir
whole
lives, ifthey candiscoversome
hid-den
truths,which
may
contribute to theinstruc-tion ofposterity.
3.Itiscertain that theeasy
and
obviousphi-losophywillalways,withthe generality of
man-kind,
have
the preferenceabove
the accurateand
abstruse;and by
many
willbe
recommend-ed,not onlyas
more
agreeable,butmore
usefulthanthe other.Itenters
more
intocommon
life;moulds
the heartand
affections;and,by
touch-ingthose principles
which
actuatemen,
reformstheir conduct,
and
bringsthem
nearerto thatmodel
of perfectionwhich
itdescribes.On
thecontrary, the abstruse philosophy,being
found-ed
on
a turnofmind,which
cannotenter intobusiness
and
action, vanisheswhen
thephilos-opher
leaves the shade,and comes
intoopen
day;norcanitsprincipleseasilyretain
any
influenceover our conduct
and
behaviour.The
feelingsofourheart, the agitation ofourpassions,the
ve-hemence
ofouraffections, dissipateall itsconclu-sions,
and
reducetheprofound philosophertoa
mere
plebeian.4.Thisalso
must
beconfessed, thatthemost
durable, as well asjustestfame,has
been
acquiredby
theeasyphilosophy,and
that abstractrea-soners
seem
hitherto tohave
enjoyed onlya
mo-mentary
reputation,from
thecapriceor452
anceoftheir
own
age,buthave
notbeen
abletosupporttheir
renown
withmore
equitablepos-terity. Itis easyfora profound philosopher to
commit
a
mistakeinhis subtilereasonings;and
one mistakeisthe necessaryparentof another,
while
he
pusheson
hisconsequences,and
isnotdeterred
from embracing any
conclusion,by
itsunusual appearance, oritscontradictionto
pop-ular opinion.
But
a
philosopher,who
purposesonlyto represent the
common
senseofmankind
in
more
beautifuland more
engagingcolours,ifby
accidenthe
fallsintoerror,goesno
farther;but renewinghisappealto
common
sense,and
thenaturalsentimentsofthemind,returns into
the right path,
and
secures himselffrom any
dan-gerousillusions.
The
fame
ofCiceroflourishes atpresent;butthat ofAristotleisutterlydecayed.
La
Bruyere passes theseas,and
still maintainshisreputation:
But
the glory ofMalebranche
isconfined tohis
own
nation,and
tohisown
age.And
Addison,perhaps,willbe read withpleas-ure,
when
Locke
shallbeentirely forgotten.The
mere
philosopherisacharacter,which
iscommonly
butlittleacceptableinthe world,asbeingsupposedtocontributenothingeitherto
the advantage orpleasure ofsociety;while he
livesremote
from communication
withmankind,
and
iswrapped
up
in principlesand
notionsequallyremote
from
their comprehension.On
theotherhand, the
mere
ignorantis stillmore
despised;norisanything
deemed
asurer sign ofan
illiberalgenius inan
ageand
nationwhere
the sciencesflourish,thantobeentirely destitute
ofallrelishforthosenobleentertainments.
The
most
perfect characterissupposedtoliebetween
thoseextremes;retaining
an
equalabilityand
taste forbooks,
company, and
business;preserv-ing in conversation thatdiscernment
and
deli-cacy
which
arisefrom
polite letters;and
inbusi-ness,that probity
and
accuracywhich
are thenaturalresultofajust philosophy. In orderto
diffuse
and
cultivatesoaccomplisheda
charac-ter,nothing
can
bemore
usefulthancomposi-tionsoftheeasystyle
and manner, which
draw
nottoo
much
from
life,requireno deep
applica-tionor retreat to be
comprehended, and
sendbackthestudent
among
mankind
fullofnoblesentiments
and
wise precepts, applicable toev-ery exigence of
human
life.By
means
ofsuchcompositions, virtue
becomes
amiable, scienceagreeable,
company
instructive,and
retiremententertaining.
Man
isa reasonablebeing;and
as such,re-ceives
from
scieiace hisproper foodand
nourish-ment:
But
sonarrow
arethebounds
ofhuman
understanding, that little satisfaction
can
behoped
for in thisparticular, eitherfrom
the extentof security orhis acquisitions.
Man
isa
sociable,no
lessthanareasonablebeing:But
neithercanhe always enjoy
company
agreeableand
amus-ing,or preserve theproperrelishforthem.
Man
is also
an
active being;and from
thatdisposi-tion, aswell as
from
the variousnecessitiesofhu-man
life,must
submittobusinessand
occupa-tion:
But
themind
requiressome
relaxation,and
cannot always supportitsbenttocare
and
in-dustry. Itseems, then, thatnature has pointed
out
a mixed
kindoflifeasmost
suitable to thehuman
race,and
secretlyadmonished
them
toallow
none
of thesebiasses todrawtoomuch,
soastoincapacitate
them
forotheroccupationsand
entertainments.Indulgeyourpassionfor science,
saysshe,butletyoursciencebe
human,
and
suchas
may
have a
directreferencetoactionand
so-ciety.Abstruse thoughtand
profoundresearchesIprohibit,
and
willseverely punish,by
thepen-sive melancholy
which
theyintroduce,by
theendlessuncertaintyin
which
theyinvolve you,and by
the'cold receptionwhich
your pretendeddiscoveriesshall
meet
with,when
communicat-ed.
Be a
philosopher; but,amidstallyourphi-losophy, bestilla
man.
5.
Were
the generality ofmankind
contentedtoprefer theeasy philosophytothe abstract
and
profound, without throwing
any blame
orcon-tempt on
thelatter, itmight
notbe improper,perhaps, to
comply
withthisgeneral opinion,and
allow every
man
to enjoy,withoutopposition,his
own
tasteand
sentiment.But
asthematterisoftencarriedfarther,eventothe absolute
re-jecting ofall profound reasonings, or
what
iscommonly
calledmetaphysics,we
shallnow
pro-ceedtoconsider
what
can reasonably beplead-ed
intheir behalf.We
may
begin withobserving, thatonecon-siderableadvantage,
which
resultsfrom
theac-curate
and
abstract philosophy,is,itssubservi-ency
totheeasyand humane;
which, withouttheformer,
can
neverattaina
sufficientdegreeof exactness in itssentiments, precepts,or
rea-sonings. All politeletters arenothing but
pic-tures of
human
lifein various attitudesand
situ-ations;
and
inspireuswithdifferent sentiments,of praiseor blame, admiration orridicule,
ac-cordingtothe qualities of theobject,
which
theysetbeforeus.
An
artistmust
bebetter qualifiedtosucceedin thisundertaking,
who,
besidesadel-icate taste
and
a quick apprehension,possessesan
accurateknowledge
ofthe internalfabric,theoperationsof the understanding, the workings
of the passions,
and
thevarious speciesofSECT. I
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING
453
painfulsoeverthisinwardsearch orenquiry
may
appear,itbecomes,in
some
measure,requisiteto those,
who
would
describewithsuccess theob-vious
and outward
appearancesoflifeand
man-ners.
The
anatomistpresents to theeyethemost
hideous
and
disagreeableobjects;buthisscienceisusefultothe painterindelineatingeven
a
Ve-nus or
an
Helen.While
thelatteremploysalltherichestcolours ofhis art,
and
giveshis figuresthemost
gracefuland
engagingairs; hemust
stillcarryhisattentiontothe
inward
structure of thehuman
body,the position of the muscles, thefab-ricof the bones,
and
the useand
figureofeverypartor organ.
Accuracy
is,ineverycase,advan-tageoustobeauty,
and
justreasoningto delicatesentiment.In vain
would
we
exalttheoneby
de-preciatingtheother.
Besides,
we may
observe, ineveryart orpro-fession,eventhose
which most
concernlifeorac-tion,thataspiritof accuracy,
however
acquired,carriesallof
them
nearertheirperfection,and
renders
them
more
subservient totheinterestsofsociety.
And
though
a philosophermay
liveremote from
business,the genius of philosophy,ifcarefully cultivated
by
several,must
gradual-ly diffuseitselfthroughoutthe
whole
society,and
bestow asimilar correctness
on
everyartand
call-ing.
The
politicianwillacquire greater foresightand
subtility,inthesubdividingand
balancing ofpower
;thelawyermore method and
finerprin-ciplesinhisreasonings;
and
the generalmore
reg-ularity inhis discipline,
and
more
cautionLahisplans
and
operations.The
stabilityofmodern
governments
above
the ancient,and
theaccu-racyof
modern
philosophy,have
improved,and
probablywillstillimprove,
by
similar gradations.6.
Were
thereno
advantagetobe reapedfrom
thesestudies,
beyond
thegratificationofan
in-nocentcuriosity,yetought not eventhistobe
de-spised;as
beingone
accession to thosefewsafeand
harmlesspleasures,
which
arebestowedon
thehuman
race.The
sweetestand most
inoffensivepathoflifeleadsthroughtheavenuesof science
and
learning;and whoever can
eitherremove
any
obstructions inthisway, oropen
up
any
new
prospect,
ought
so far tobeesteemed abenefac-torto
mankind.
And
thoughthese researchesmay
appear painful
and
fatiguing, it is withsome
minds
as withsome
bodies,which
beingen-dowed
withvigorousand
floridhealth, requirese-vereexercise,
and
reap apleasurefrom
what,tothe generalityof
mankind,
may
seem
burden-some
and
laborious. Obscurity, indeed,ispain-fulto the
mind
as wellastothe eye;buttobringlight
from
obscurity,by
whateverlabour,must
needs
be
delightfuland
rejoicing.But
thisobscurity in theprofoundand
abstractphilosophy,isobjectedto,not onlyaspainful
and
fatiguing,butasthe inevitable source of
uncer-tainty
and
error.Here
indeedliesthejustestand
most
plausible objection againsta
considerablepart of metaphysics, thattheyarenot properly
a
science;butariseeitherfrom
thefruitlessef-fortsof
human
vanity,which would
penetrateinto subjects utterly inaccessible to the
under-standing, or
from
thecraftofpopularsupersti-tions,which, being unabletodefend themselves
on
fairground,raisethese intanglingbramblestocover
and
protecttheirweakness.Chased from
the
open
country, theserobbersflyinto thefor-est,
and
lieinwaittobreakinupon
everyun-guarded
avenueofthemind,and overwhelm
itwithreligious fears
and
prejudices.The
stoutestantagonist,ifhe remithis
watch
amoment,
isoppressed.
And
many,
through cowardiceand
folly,
open
the gatestothe enemies,and
willing-lyreceive
them
with reverenceand
submission,astheirlegal sovereigns.
7.
But
isthisa
sufficientreason,why
philoso-phers should desist
from
suchresearches,and
leave superstitionstillin possession ofherretreat?
Isitnot properto
draw
an
opposite conclusion,and
perceive the necessity of carrying thewar
in-to the
most
secret recessesof theenemy?
In vaindo
we
hope,thatmen, from
frequentdisappoint-ment,willatlast
abandon
suchairysciences,and
discover theproper provinceof
human
reason.For,besides,that
many
persons find toosensiblean
interestin perpetually recallingsuchtopics;besidesthis,I say,themotiveofblind despair
can
never reasonably haveplace in thesciences; since,
however
unsuccessfulformer attemptsmay
have
proved, thereis still
room
tohope,thatthein-dustry,
good
fortune, orimproved
sagacityofsuc-ceedinggenerations
may
reachdiscoveriesun-known
toformerages.Each
adventurousgeniuswillstillleap at thearduousprize,
and
findhim-selfstimulated, rather thatdiscouraged,
by
thefailuresofhispredecessors;whilehe hopesthat
the glory ofachievingso
hard
an
adventureisreservedfor
him
alone.The
onlymethod
offree-inglearning, at once,
from
these abstruseques-tions, istoenquireseriously into thenature of
human
understanding,and
show,from an
exactanalysis ofitspowers
and
capacity, thatit isby
no
means
fitted for suchremote and
abstrusesubjects.
We
must
submittothis fatigue,inor-dertoliveat ease everafter:
And
must
cultivatetruemetaphysics with
some
care, inordertode-stroy thefalse
and
adulterate. Indolence,which,to
some
persons, affordsa
safeguardagainstthisoverbal-454
anced by
curiosity;and
despair,which,atsome
moments,
prevails,may
giveplace afterwards tosanguine hopes
and
expectations.Accurateand
justreasoningistheonlycatholicremedy,fitted
forallpersons
and
alldispositions;and
isaloneable to subvert that abstruse philosophy
and
metaphysicaljargon,which, being
mixed
up
withpopularsuperstition,rendersitin
a
manner
im-penetrableto carelessreasoners,
and
givesittheairof science
and wisdom.
8.Besidesthisadvantageofrejecting, after
de-liberate enquiry, the
most
uncertainand
disa-greeable part of learning, there are
many
posi-tiveadvantages,
which
resultfrom an
accuratescrutiny into thepowers
and
facultiesofhuman
nature. Itisremarkable concerningthe
opera-tiorm of themind,that,
though most
intimatelypresent tous, yet,
whenever
theybecome
theob-ject ofreflexion, they
seem
involvedinobscur-ity;nor
can
theeyereadily find thoselinesand
boundaries,
which
discriminateand
distinguishthem.
The
objects are toofinetoremain
longinthe
same
aspect orsituation;and must
beappre-hended
inan
instant,by
asuperior penetration,derived
from
nature,and unproved by
habitand
reflexion. Itbecomes, therefore,
no
inconsider-able part of sciencebarelyto
know
the differentoperations of themind, toseparate
them
from
each other, to class
them
under
their properheads,
and
to correctallthatseeming
disorder,in
which
theylieinvolved,when
made
theob-jectof reflexion
and
enquiry.Thistalkoforder-ing
and
distinguishing,which
hasno
merit,when
performed with regard to external bodies, the
objects ofoursenses, risesinitsvalue,
when
di-rectedtowardsthe operationsofthemind,in
pro-portion to thedifficulty
and
labour,which
we
meet
withinperformingit.And
ifwe
can
gono
fartherthanthismental geography, or
delinea-tionof thedistinctparts
and powers
of themind,it isatleast
a
satisfactiontogosofar;and
themore
obviousthissciencemay
appear (andit isby
no means
obvious) themore
contemptiblestillmust
theignoranceofitbe esteemed,inallpre-tenders to learning
and
philosophy.Nor
can
thereremain any
suspicion, thatthisscienceisuncertain
and
chimerical; unlesswe
sbouldentertainsuch
a
scepticism asisentirelysubversive ofallspeculation,
and
even
action.Itcamaot
be
doubted, that thersmd
isendowed
withseveral
powers and
faculties,thatthesepow-ersaredistinct
from each
other,thatw&at
is re-ally distincttothemimediate
perceptionmay
be
distinguished
by
reflexion;and
consequently,that thereis
a
truthand
falsehoodinallpropo-sitions
on
this subject,and
atrothand
falsehood,which
lienotbeyond
thecompass
ofhuman
un-derstanding.Thereare
many
obviousdistinctionsofthiskind,suchasthose
between
thewilland
understanding, the imagination
and
passions,which
fallwithinthecomprehension
ofeveryhu-man
creature;and
thefinerand
more
philosoph-ical distinctions are
no
less realand
certain,though
more
difficulttobecomprehended.
Some
instances,especiallylateones, of successinthese
enquiries,
may
giveusa
justernotionof thecer-tainty
and
solidity ofthisbranch
of learning.And
shallwe
esteemitworthy
thelabourofaphilosophertogiveus
a
truesystemoftheplan-ets,
and
adjust the positionand
orderof thoseremote
bodies;whilewe
affecttooverlookthose,who,
withsomuch
success,delineatethe partsof themind,in
which
we
are so intimatelycon-cerned?
9.
But
may we
not hope, that philosophy,ifcultivatedwithcare,
and
encouragedby
theat-tention of the public,
may
carryitsresearchesstillfarther,
and
discover, atleastinsome
de-gree,thesecretsprings
and
principles,by
which
the
human
mind
isactuatedinitsoperations?Astronomers
had
long contented themselves withproving,
from
thephaenomena,
the true motions,order,
and magnitude
of theheavenly bodies:Tillaphilosopher, atlast,arose,
who
seems,from
thehappiestreasoning, tohavealsodetermined
thelaws
and
forces,by which
the revolutions ofthe planets aregoverned
and
directed.The
likehas
been
performed with regardtootherpartsof nature.
And
thereisno
reasonto despair ofequal success in ourenquiries concerning the
mental
powersand economy,
ifprosecuted withequal capacity
and
caution.Itisprobable, thatone
operationand
principleof themind
dependson
another;which,again,may
beresolved intoone
more
generaland
universal:And how
fartheseresearches
may
possiblybecarried,itwillbedifficultfor us, before,orevenafter,
a
carefultrial,exactly todetermine. Thisiscertain,that
attemptsofthiskindareevery
day
made
evenby
thosewho
philosophize themost
negligent-ly:
And
nothingcan be
more
requisitethantoenter
upon
the enterprizewith thoroughcareand
attention; that, if it liewithin the
compass
ofhuman
understanding,itmay
atlastbe happilyachieved;ifnot, it
may,
however,be
rejectedwith
some
confidenceand
security.Thislastcon-clusion, surely,isnotdesirable;nor
ought
ittobe
embraced
toorashly.For
how
much
must
we
diminish
from
the beautyand
valueofthisspe-ciesofphilosophy,
upon
sucka
supposition?Mor-alists
have
hithertobeen
accustomed,when
theySECT.
H
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING
455
those actions that exciteour approbationor
dis-like, tosearch for
some
common
principle,on
which
thisvariety of sentimentsmight
depend.And
though
theyhave
sometimescarriedthemat-tertoofar,
by
theirpassionforsome
onegeneralprinciple; itmust, however, beconfessed, that
theyareexcusableinexpectingto find
some
gen-eral principles, into
which
allthevicesand
vir-tues
were
justly toberesolved.The
likehasbeenthe
endeavour
ofcritics,logicians,and
evenpol-iticians:
Nor
have
their attemptsbeen
whollyunsuccessful;
though
perhapslonger tune,great-er accuracy,
and
more
ardentapplicationmay
bringthese sciencesstillnearertheir perfection.
To
throw
up
atonceallpretensions ofthiskindmay
justly bedeemed
more
rash, precipitate,and
dogmatical, than eventhe boldestand most
affirmative philosophy, thathaseverattempted
toimposeits crude dictates
and
principleson
mankind.
10.
What
though
these reasoningsconcerninghuman
natureseem
abstract,and
ofdifficultcomprehension? Thisaffords
no
presumptionoftheirfalsehood.
On
the contrary,itseems impos-sible, thatwhat
hashitherto escapedsomany
wise
and
profoundphilosopherscan be veryob-vious
and
easy.And
whateverpains thesere-searches
may
cost us,we may
think ourselvessuf-ficientlyrewarded, not onlyin point ofprofitbut
of pleasure,if,
by
thatmeans,we
canmake
any
addition toourstock ofknowledge,in subjects
ofsuch unspeakable importance.
But
as, afterall, the abstractedness of thesespeculationsis
no
recommendation, butrathera
disadvantagetothem,and
as this difficultymay
perhaps be
surmounted by
careand
art,and
theavoiding ofallunnecessarydetail,
we
have, inthe following enquiry,attemptedto
throw some
light
upon
subjects,from
which
uncertaintyhashithertodeterredthewise,
and
obscurity theig-norant.
Happy,
ifwe
can
unite theboundariesofthe different species of philosophy,
by
recon-cilingprofound enquiry withclearness,
and
truthwithnovelty!
And
stillmore
happy,if,reason-inginthiseasy
manner,
we
can undermine
thefoundations of
an
abstruse philosophy,which
seemsto
have
hitherto servedonlyasasheltertosuperstition,
and a
coverto absurdityand
error!Sect.II.
Of
theOriginof Ideas^n.
Every one
willreadily allow, that thereisa
considerable differencebetween
thepercep-tions of the
mind,
when
aman
feelsthepainofex-cessiveheat,orthe pleasure of
moderate warmth,
and
when
he
afterwardsrecallstohismemory
thissensation,oranticipatesit
by
hisimagina-tion.
These
facultiesmay
mimic
orcopytheper-ceptions of thesenses;but they never can
entire-lyreachthe force
and
vivacity of the originalsentiment.
The
utmostwe
say ofthem, evenwhen
they operate withgreatest vigour,is, thatthey
representtheirobjectin so lively
a manner,
thatwe
couldalmostsaywe
feelorseeit:But,exceptthe
mind
bedisorderedby
diseaseor madness,they never canarriveatsuch
a
pitch ofvivacity,as torenderthese perceptions altogether
undis-tinguishable. All the colours of poetry,
however
splendid,can neverpaint natural objectsinsuch
a
manner
as tomake
the descriptionbe takenforareal landskip.
The
most
livelythoughtisstillinferiortothedullestsensation.
We
may
observe a like distinction torun
throughalltheother perceptions of themind.
A
man
inafitof anger,isactuatedina
verydiffer-ent
manner
from
onewho
only thinks ofthatemotion.If
you
tellme,thatany
personisin love,I easilyunderstand your meaning,
and
form
a
justconception ofhis situation; but never
can
mistakethatconceptionforthe real disorders
and
agitations of the passion.
When
we
reflecton
ourpast sentiments
and
affections,our thoughtisa
faithfulmirror,
and
copiesitsobjectstruly;butthe colours
which
itemploysarefaintand
dull,incomparisonof those hi
which
ouroriginalper-ceptions
were
clothed. Itrequiresno
nicedis-cernment
or metaphysicalhead
tomark
thedis-tinction
between
them.12.
Here
thereforewe may
dividealltheper-ceptions of the
mind
intotwo
classesorspecies,which
are distinguishedby
theirdifferentde-grees offeree
and
vivacity.The
lessforcibleand
livelyare
commonly
denominated
ThoughtsorIdeas.
The
otherspecieswant a
name
inourlan-guage,
and
inmost
others; Isuppose,becauseitwas
notrequisite forany,butphilosophicalpur-poses,torank
them
under a
generalterm
orap-pellation.Letus, therefore,use
a
littlefreedom,and
callthem
Impressions;employing
thatword
inasense
somewhat
differentfrom
the usuaj.By
the
term
impression, then, Imean
allourmore
livelyperceptions,
when
we
hear, orsee,orfeel,orlove,or hate,ordesire, orwill.
And
impres-sionsare distinguished
from
ideas,which
are thelesslivelyperceptions, of
which
we
are conscious,when
we
reflecton any
of those sensations ormovements above
mentioned.13.Nothing,atfirstview,
may
seem
more
un-bounded
thanthethoughtofman, which
noton-lyescapesall
human
power and
authority,butisnot evenrestrainedwithinthelimitsof nature
and
reality.To
form
monsters,and
joinimag-456
ination
no
more
trouble thanto conceive themost
naturaland
familiarobjects.And
whilethebody
isconfined toone
planet,alongwhich
itcreepswith pain
and
difficulty;thethought canin
an
instant transport us into themost
distantregions of the universe;oreven
beyond
theuni-verse,intothe
unbounded
chaos,where
natureissupposedtoliein totalconfusion.
What
neverwas
seen,orheardof,may
yetbe
conceived; noris
any
thingbeyond
thepower
ofthought,exceptwhat
impliesan
absolute contradiction.But though
our thought seemsto possessthisunbounded
liberty,we
shall find,upon
a nearerexamination,thatitis reallyconfined within
very
narrow
limits,and
thatall thiscreativepower
ofthemind
amounts
tono
more
thanthefaculty of
compounding,
transposing,augment-ing,or diminishingthe materials afforded us
by
thesenses
and
experience.When
we
think ofa
golden
mountain,
we
only jointwo
consistentideas, gold,
and
mountain,withwhich
we
were
for-merlyacquainted.
A
virtuoushorsewe
can
con-ceive;because,
from
ourown
feeling,we
can
conceive virtue;
and
thiswe may
unite to thefig-ure
and
shapeofa
horse,which
isan
animalfa-miliar tous.Inshort,allthe materials of
think-ingarederivedeither
from
ouroutward
orin-ward
sentiment: themixtureand
compositionofthese belongsaloneto the
mind
and
will.Or,toexpressmyselfin philosophicallanguage,allour
ideas or
more
feeble perceptions are copies ofourimpressions or
more
livelyones.14.
To
provethis,thetwo
followingarguments
will,Ihope, besufficient. First,
when
we
analyzeour thoughts orideas,
however
compounded
orsublime,
we
alwaysfindthattheyresolvethem-selvesintosuch simpleideas as
were
copiedfrom
a
precedentfeelingor sentiment.Even
thoseideas,which,atfirstview,
seem
themost wide
ofthis origin,are found,
upon
a
nearerscrutiny,tobederived
from
it.The
ideaofGod,
asmeaning
an
infinitely intelligent, wise,and
good
Being,arises
from
reflectingon
the operations of ourown
mind,and
augmenting, withoutlimit,thosequalitiesof goodness
and
wisdom.
We
may
pros-ecutethis
enquiry
towhat
lengthwe
please;where
we
shallalwaysfind,thatevery ideawhich
we
examine
iscopiedfrom a
similar impression.Those
who
would
assertthatthispositionisnotuniversally true
nor without
exception,have
onlyc^ie,
and
thatan
easymethod
of refutingit;by
producingthatidea,which
aintheir opinion,isnot derived
from
thissource.Itwillthenbe
in-cumbent on
us,ifwe
would
maintainour
doc-trine, toproducethe impression,orlively
per-ception,
which
correspondstoit.15.Secondly.Ifithappen,
from
a defect of theorgan, thata
man
isnotsusceptible ofany
spe-ciesof sensation,
we
alwaysfindthatheisaslittlesusceptible of thecorrespondentideas.
A
blindman
can
form no
notionof colours;a
deafman
of sounds. Restoreeither of
them
that sense inwhich
heisdeficient;by
openingthisnew
inlet for his sensations,you
alsoopen an
inlet fortheideas;
and
he
findsno
difficultyin conceivingtheseobjects.
The
caseisthesame,iftheobject,properforexciting
any
sensation,has neverbeenappliedtothe organ.
A
Laplander orNegro
hasno
notionof therelishof wine.And
though
thereare
few
orno
instancesofalikedeficiencyinthemind,
where
a person has neverfeltoriswhollyincapableofa sentimentor passion thatbelongs
tohis species;yet
we
findthesame
observationtotakeplacein
a
lessdegree.A
man
ofmildman-ners
can form no
idea of inveteraterevengeorcruelty;nor
can
aselfishhearteasilyconceivethe heights offriendship
and
generosity. Itisreadily allowed, thatother beings
may
possessmany
senses ofwhich
we
canhave no
conception;becausethe ideas of
them
have
neverbeen
intro-duced
toushitheonlymanner
by which an
ideacan have
access to themind,towit,by
the actualfeeling
and
sensation.16.
There
is,however,one
contradictoryphe-nomenon, which
may
provethatitisnotabso-lutelyimpossibleforideasto arise,independent
of theircorrespondentimpressions.I believeit
willreadilybeallowed, that the severaldistinct
ideasofcolour,
which
enterby
theeye, or thoseof sound,
which
areconveyed
by
the ear, arereallydifferent
from
eachother;though,at thesame
time, resembling.Now
ifthisbetrueofdif-ferentcolours,it
must
beno
lesssoof the differentshades ofthe
same
colour;and each
shadepro-duces
a
distinctidea,independentof therest.For
ifthisshould
be
denied,it ispossible,by
thecon-tinualgradationof shades, to
run
acolourinsen-siblyinto
what
ismost remote from
it;and
ifyou
willnot allow
any
of themeans
tobe
different,you
cannot,without
absurdity,deny
theex-tremestobethesame. Suppose,therefore,
a
per-sonto
have
enjoyedhissightforthirtyyears,and
to
have
become
perfectlyacquainted withcol-ours ofallkinds except
one
particularshade ofblue,forinstance,
which
itnever hasbeen
hisfortuneto
meet
with.Letallthe differentshadesof that colour,exceptthat single one,
be
placedbeforehim, descending gradually
from
thedeep-esttothelightest;it isplain that
he
willperceivea
blank,where
thatshadeiswanting,and
willbe
sensible that thereis
a
greater distanceinthatSECT. Ill
CONCERNING
HUMAN
UNDERSTANDING
457
any
other.Now
Iask,whetheritbepossibleforhim,
from
hisown
imagination, tosupplythisdeficiency,
and
raiseup
tohimself the idea of thatparticular shade,
though
ithad
neverbeencon-veyedto
him
by
hissenses? Ibelievethere arefew butwillbeofopinionthathecan:
and
thismay
serveasa proofthatthesimpleideasarenotalways,ineveryinstance,derived
from
thecor-respondentimpressions;
though
thisinstanceissosingular, thatitisscarcely
worth
ourobserv-ing,
and
does not meritthatforitalonewe
shouldalterourgeneral
maxim.
17.Here,therefore,isaproposition,
which
notonlyseems, initself,simple
and
intelligible;but,ifa proper use
were
made
ofit,might
rendereverydispute equallyintelligible,
and
banishallthat jargon,
which
hassolong takenpossessionofmetaphysicalreasonings,
and
drawn
disgraceupon
them.Allideas, especially abstract ones,are naturallyfaint
and
obscure:themind
hasbutaslenderholdofthem: theyareaptto
be
con-founded withotherresemblingideas;
and
when
we
have
oftenemployed any
term,though
with-out adistinctmeaning,
we
areapttoimagineithasa determinate idea
annexed
toit.On
thecontrary,allimpressions, thatis,allsensations,
either
outward
orinward,are strongand
vivid:thelimits
between
them
aremore
exactlydeter-mined: norisiteasy tofallinto
any
error ormis-takewith regardtothem.
When
we
entertain,therefore,
any
suspicion that a philosophicalterm
isemployed
withoutany meaning
or idea(asis buttoo frequent),
we
need
butenquire,from whatimpressionisthatsupposedidea derived?
And
if itbe
impossible to assign any, thiswillserve toconfirm oursuspicion.
By
bringingideasinto so clearalight
we may
reasonablyhope
toremove
alldispute,which
may
arise,concerningtheirnature
and
reality.11
Itisprobablethat
no more
wasmeant
bythose,who
denied innateideas,thanthatallideaswerecopiesofour impressions;thoughitmust be
con-fessed,that the terms,whichtheyemployed, were
notchosen with suchcaution, norsoexactly
de-fined, as topreventallmistakesabouttheir
doc-trine. For
what
ismeant
byinnate? Ifinnate beequivalentto natural,thenallthe perceptions
and
ideas of the
mind
must beallowedtobeinnate ornatural, inwhateversense
we
take thelatterword,whetherinoppositionto
what
isuncommon,
arti-ficial,or miraculous.Ifbyinnatebe meant,
con-temporarytoour birth, the dispute seemstobe
frivolous;noris itworthwhiletoenquireat
what
time thinking begins,whetherbefore,at,orafter
ourbirth.Again, the
word
idea,seemstobecom-monly
takenina veryloose sense,by
Lockeand
others; asstandingforanyofourperceptions,our sensations
and
passions, aswellasthoughts.Now
inthissense, Ishoulddesire toknow,
what
can beSect. III.
Of
the Association of Ideas18. IT isevident that thereis aprinciple of
connexion between
the different thoughts orideasof themind,
and
that, in theirappearancetothe
memory
or imagination, they introduceeachotherwith
a
certaindegreeofmethod and
regularity. In our
more
serious thinking ordis-coursethisissoobservable that
any
particularthought,
which
breaksinupon
the regular tractorchainofideas,isimmediately
remarked and
rejected.
And
eveninourwildestand most
wan-deringreveries,
nay
inour very dreams,we
shallfind,if
we
reflect,that theimagination ran notaltogether at adventures,butthat there
was
stillaconnexion upheld
among
thedifferent ideas,which
succeeded eachother.Were
the loosestand
freestconversation tobetranscribed, therewould
immediately be observed something
which
connected
itinallits transitions.Or
where
thisiswanting,thepersonwho
broke thethreadof discourse
might
stillinformyou, thatthere
had
secretlyrevolved inhismind
asuc-cession of thought,
which had
graduallyledhim
from
the subject of conversation.Among
differ-ent languages,even
where
we
cannotsuspect theleastconnexionorcommunication,it isfound,
thatthewords, expressiveofideas, the
most
compounded, do
yet nearlycorrespondtoeach
other:acertainproofthat thesimpleideas,
com-prehended
in thecompound
ones,were
bound
together
by some
universalprinciple,which
had
an
equalinfluenceon
allmankind.
1
9.
Though
itbetooobvioustoescapeobser-vation, thatdifferent ideas areconnected
to-gether; I
do
notfindthatany
philosopher hasattemptedto
enumerate
orclassalltheprinci-ples ofassociation;
a
subject,however,
thatseems
worthy
ofcuriosity.To
me,thereappear
to
be
onlythree principles ofconnexionamong
ideas, namely,Resemblance, Contiguityintime or
place,
and
CauseorEffect.meant by
asserting,thatself-love,or resentment of injuries, or the passionbetween thesexes is notinnate?
Butadmittingtheseterms,impressions
and
ideasyinthesense aboveexplained,
and
understandingby
innate,what
isoriginalor copiedfrom noprece-dent perception, then
may
we
assert thatallourimpressions areinnate,
and
ourideas notinnate*To
beingenuous,Imustown
ittobemy
opin-ion,thatLocke wasbetrayedintothisquestion
by
the schoolmen, who,
making
use of undefinedterms,
draw
outtheir disputes toa
tediouslength,without ever touching the pointin question.
A
likeambiguity
and
circumlocutionseem
torun throughthat Philosopher's reasonings