第2章

。Consequently，theverysameargumentswhichyouadmittedasconclusiveagainsttheSecondaryQualitiesare，withoutanyfartherapplicationofforce，againstthePrimarytoo。Besides，ifyouwilltrustyoursenses，isitnotplainallsensiblequalitiescoexist，ortothemappearasbeinginthesameplace？Dotheyeverrepresentamotion，orfigure，asbeingdivestedofallothervisibleandtangiblequalities？

。Youneedsaynomoreonthishead。Iamfreetoown，iftherebenosecreterrororoversightinourproceedingshitherto，thatallsensiblequalitiesarealiketobedeniedexistencewithoutthemind。But，myfearisthatIhavebeentooliberalinmyformerconcessions，oroverlookedsomefallacyorother。Inshort，Ididnottaketimetothink。

。Forthatmatter，Hylas，youmaytakewhattimeyoupleaseinreviewingtheprogressofourinquiry。Youareatlibertytorecoveranyslipsyoumighthavemade，orofferwhateveryouhaveomittedwhichmakesforyourfirstopinion。

。OnegreatoversightItaketobethis——thatIdidnotsufficientlydistinguishthefromthe。Now，thoughthislattermaynotexistwithoutthemind，yetitwillnotthencefollowthattheformercannot。。Whatobjectdoyoumean？theobjectofthesenses？。Thesame。。Itisthenimmediatelyperceived？{195}。Right。。Makemetounderstandthedifferencebetweenwhatisimmediatelyperceivedandasensation。。ThesensationItaketobeanactofthemindperceiving；besideswhich，thereissomethingperceived；andthisIcallthe。Forexample，thereisredandyellowonthattulip。Butthentheactofperceivingthosecoloursisinmeonly，andnotinthetulip。。Whattulipdoyouspeakof？Isitthatwhichyousee？。Thesame。。Andwhatdoyouseebesidecolour，figure，andextension？。Nothing。。Whatyouwouldsaythenisthattheredandyellowarecoexistentwiththeextension；isitnot？。Thatisnotall；Iwouldsaytheyhavearealexistencewithoutthemind，insomeunthinkingsubstance。。ThatthecoloursarereallyinthetulipwhichIseeismanifest。Neithercanitbedeniedthatthistulipmayexistindependentofyourmindormine；but，thatanyimmediateobjectofthesenses，——thatis，anyidea，orcombinationofideas——shouldexistinanunthinkingsubstance，orexteriortominds，isinitselfanevidentcontradiction。NorcanIimaginehowthisfollowsfromwhatyousaidjustnow，towit，thattheredandyellowwereonthetulip，sinceyoudonotpretendtothatunthinkingsubstance。。Youhaveanartfulway，Philonous，ofdivertingourinquiryfromthesubject。。Iseeyouhavenomindtobepressedthatway。Toreturnthentoyourdistinctionbetweenand；ifItakeyouright，youdistinguishineveryperceptiontwothings，theoneanactionofthemind，theothernot。。True。。Andthisactioncannotexistin，orbelongto，anyunthinkingthing；but，whateverbesideisimpliedinaperceptionmay？{196}。Thatismymeaning。。Sothatiftherewasaperceptionwithoutanyactofthemind，itwerepossiblesuchaperceptionshouldexistinanunthinkingsubstance？。Igrantit。Butitisimpossiblethereshouldbesuchaperception。。Whenisthemindsaidtobeactive？。Whenitproduces，putsanendto，orchanges，anything。。Canthemindproduce，discontinue，orchangeanything，butbyanactofthewill？。Itcannot。。Themindthereforeistobeaccountedinitsperceptionssofarforthasisincludedinthem？。Itis。。InpluckingthisflowerIamactive；becauseIdoitbythemotionofmyhand，whichwasconsequentuponmyvolition；solikewiseinapplyingittomynose。Butiseitherofthesesmelling？。。。Iacttooindrawingtheairthroughmynose；becausemybreathingsoratherthanotherwiseistheeffectofmyvolition。Butneithercanthisbecalled:for，ifitwere，IshouldsmelleverytimeIbreathedinthatmanner？。True。。Smellingthenissomewhatconsequenttoallthis？。Itis。。ButIdonotfindmywillconcernedanyfarther。Whatevermorethereis——asthatIperceivesuchaparticularsmell，oranysmellatall——thisisindependentofmywill，andthereinIamaltogetherpassive。Doyoufinditotherwisewithyou，Hylas？。No，theverysame。。Then，astoseeing，isitnotinyourpowertoopenyoureyes，orkeepthemshut；toturnthemthisorthatway？。Withoutdoubt。。But，dothitinlikemannerdependonwillthatinlookingonthisfloweryouperceiveratherthananyothercolour？Or，directingyouropeneyestowardsyonderpartoftheheaven，canyouavoidseeingthesun？Orislightordarknesstheeffectofyourvolition？。No，certainly。。Youarethenintheserespectsaltogetherpassive？{197}。Iam。。Tellmenow，whetherconsistsinperceivinglightandcolours，orinopeningandturningtheeyes？。Withoutdoubt，intheformer。。Sincethereforeyouareintheveryperceptionoflightandcoloursaltogetherpassive，whatisbecomeofthatactionyouwerespeakingofasaningredientineverysensation？And，dothitnotfollowfromyourownconcessions，thattheperceptionoflightandcolours，includingnoactioninit，mayexistinanunperceivingsubstance？Andisnotthisaplaincontradiction？。Iknownotwhattothinkofit。。Besides，sinceyoudistinguishtheandineveryperception，youmustdoitinthatofpain。Buthowisitpossiblethatpain，beitaslittleactiveasyouplease，shouldexistinanunperceivingsubstance？Inshort，dobutconsiderthepoint，andthenconfessingenuously，whetherlightandcolours，tastes，sounds，&c。arenotallequallypassionsorsensationsinthesoul。Youmayindeedcallthem，andgivetheminwordswhatsubsistenceyouplease。But，examineyourownthoughts，andthentellmewhetheritbenotasIsay？。Iacknowledge，Philonous，that，uponafairobservationofwhatpassesinmymind，IcandiscovernothingelsebutthatIamathinkingbeing，affectedwithvarietyofsensations；neitherisitpossibletoconceivehowasensationshouldexistinanunperceivingsubstance。Butthen，ontheotherhand，whenIlookonsensiblethingsinadifferentview，consideringthemassomanymodesandqualities，Ifinditnecessarytosupposea，withoutwhichtheycannotbeconceivedtoexist。。callyouit？Pray，bywhichofyoursensescameyouacquaintedwiththatbeing？。Itisnotitselfsensible；itsmodesandqualitiesonlybeingperceivedbythesenses。。Ipresumethenitwasbyreflexionandreasonyouobtainedtheideaofit？。Idonotpretendtoanyproperpositiveofit。However，Iconcludeitexists，becausequalitiescannotbeconceivedtoexistwithoutasupport。。Itseemsthenyouhaveonlyarelativeofit，orthatyouconceiveitnototherwisethanbyconceivingtherelationitbearstosensiblequalities？{198}。Right。。Bepleasedthereforetoletmeknowwhereinthatrelationconsists。。Isitnotsufficientlyexpressedintheterm，or？。Ifso，thewordshouldimportthatitisspreadunderthesensiblequalitiesoraccidents？。True。。Andconsequentlyunderextension？。Iownit。。Itisthereforesomewhatinitsownnatureentirelydistinctfromextension？。Itellyou，extensionisonlyamode，andMatterissomethingthatsupportsmodes。Andisitnotevidentthethingsupportedisdifferentfromthethingsupporting？。Sothatsomethingdistinctfrom，andexclusiveof，extensionissupposedtobetheofextension？。Justso。。Answerme，Hylas。Canathingbespreadwithoutextension？orisnottheideaofextensionnecessarilyincludedin？。Itis。。Whatsoeverthereforeyousupposespreadunderanythingmusthaveinitselfanextensiondistinctfromtheextensionofthatthingunderwhichitisspread？。Itmust。。Consequently，everycorporealsubstance，beingtheofextension，musthaveinitselfanotherextension，bywhichitisqualifiedtobea:andsoontoinfinity。AndIaskwhetherthisbenotabsurdinitself，andrepugnanttowhatyougrantedjustnow，towit，thatthewassomethingdistinctfromandexclusiveofextension？。Ayebut，Philonous，youtakemewrong。IdonotmeanthatMatterisinagrossliteralsenseunderextension。Thewordisusedonlytoexpressingeneralthesamethingwith。。Wellthen，letusexaminetherelationimpliedintheterm。Isitnotthatitstandsunderaccidents？。Theverysame。。But，thatonethingmaystandunderorsupportanother，mustitnotbeextended？。Itmust。{199}。Isnotthereforethissuppositionliabletothesameabsurditywiththeformer？。Youstilltakethingsinastrictliteralsense。Thatisnotfair，Philonous。。Iamnotforimposinganysenseonyourwords:youareatlibertytoexplainthemasyouplease。Only，Ibeseechyou，makemeunderstandsomethingbythem。YoutellmeMattersupportsorstandsunderaccidents。How!isitasyourlegssupportyourbody？。No；thatistheliteralsense。。Prayletmeknowanysense，literalornotliteral，thatyouunderstanditin——HowlongmustIwaitforananswer，Hylas？。IdeclareIknownotwhattosay。IoncethoughtIunderstoodwellenoughwhatwasmeantbyMatter\'ssupportingaccidents。Butnow，themoreIthinkonitthelesscanIcomprehendit:inshortIfindthatIknownothingofit。。Itseemsthenyouhavenoideaatall，neitherrelativenorpositive，ofMatter；youknowneitherwhatitisinitself，norwhatrelationitbearstoaccidents？。Iacknowledgeit。。Andyetyouassertedthatyoucouldnotconceivehowqualitiesoraccidentsshouldreallyexist，withoutconceivingatthesametimeamaterialsupportofthem？。Idid。。Thatistosay，whenyouconceivetherealexistenceofqualities，youdowithalconceiveSomethingwhichyoucannotconceive？。Itwaswrong，Iown。ButstillIfearthereissomefallacyorother。Praywhatthinkyouofthis？Itisjustcomeintomyheadthatthegroundofallourmistakeliesinyourtreatingofeachqualitybyitself。Now，Igrantthateachqualitycannotsinglysubsistwithoutthemind。Colourcannotwithoutextension，neithercanfigurewithoutsomeothersensiblequality。But，astheseveralqualitiesunitedorblendedtogetherformentiresensiblethings，nothinghinderswhysuchthingsmaynotbesupposedtoexistwithoutthemind。。Either，Hylas，youarejesting，orhaveaverybadmemory。Thoughindeedwewentthroughallthequalitiesbynameoneafteranother，yetmyargumentsorratheryourconcessions，nowheretendedtoprovethattheSecondaryQualitiesdidnotsubsisteachalonebyitself；but，thattheywerenot{200}withoutthemind。Indeed，intreatingoffigureandmotionweconcludedtheycouldnotexistwithoutthemind，becauseitwasimpossibleeveninthoughttoseparatethemfromallsecondaryqualities，soastoconceivethemexistingbythemselves。Butthenthiswasnottheonlyargumentmadeuseofuponthatoccasion。But(topassbyallthathathbeenhithertosaid，andreckonitfornothing，ifyouwillhaveitso)Iamcontenttoputthewholeuponthisissue。Ifyoucanconceiveitpossibleforanymixtureorcombinationofqualities，oranysensibleobjectwhatever，toexistwithoutthemind，thenIwillgrantitactuallytobeso。。Ifitcomestothatthepointwillsoonbedecided。Whatmoreeasythantoconceiveatreeorhouseexistingbyitself，independentof，andunperceivedby，anymindwhatsoever？Idoatthispresenttimeconceivethemexistingafterthatmanner。。Howsayyou，Hylas，canyouseeathingwhichisatthesametimeunseen？。No，thatwereacontradiction。。Isitnotasgreatacontradictiontotalkofathingwhichis？。Itis。。The，treeorhousethereforewhichyouthinkofisconceivedbyyou？。Howshoulditbeotherwise？。Andwhatisconceivedissurelyinthemind？。Withoutquestion，thatwhichisconceivedisinthemind。。Howthencameyoutosay，youconceivedahouseortreeexistingindependentandoutofallmindswhatsoever？。ThatwasIownanoversight；butstay，letmeconsiderwhatledmeintoit——Itisapleasantmistakeenough。AsIwasthinkingofatreeinasolitaryplace，wherenoonewaspresenttoseeit，methoughtthatwastoconceiveatreeasexistingunperceivedorunthoughtof；notconsideringthatImyselfconceiveditallthewhile。ButnowIplainlyseethatallIcandoistoframeideasinmyownmind。Imayindeedconceiveinmyownthoughtstheideaofatree，orahouse，oramountain，butthatisall。AndthisisfarfromprovingthatIcanconceivethem。。Youacknowledgethenthatyoucannotpossiblyconceivehowanyonecorporealsensiblethingshouldexistotherwisethaninthemind？{201}。Ido。。Andyetyouwillearnestlycontendforthetruthofthatwhichyoucannotsomuchasconceive？。IprofessIknownotwhattothink；butstilltherearesomescruplesremainwithme。IsitnotcertainIadistance？Dowenotperceivethestarsandmoon，forexample，tobeagreatwayoff？Isnotthis，Isay，manifesttothesenses？。Doyounotinadreamtooperceivethoseorthelikeobjects？。Ido。。Andhavetheynotthenthesameappearanceofbeingdistant？。Theyhave。。Butyoudonotthenceconcludetheapparitionsinadreamtobewithoutthemind？。Bynomeans。。Yououghtnotthereforetoconcludethatsensibleobjectsarewithoutthemind，fromtheirappearance，ormannerwhereintheyareperceived。。Iacknowledgeit。Butdothnotmysensedeceivemeinthosecases？。Bynomeans。Theideaorthingwhichyouimmediatelyperceive，neithersensenorreasoninformsyouthatitactuallyexistswithoutthemind。Bysenseyouonlyknowthatyouareaffectedwithsuchcertainsensationsoflightandcolours，&c。Andtheseyouwillnotsayarewithoutthemind。。True:but，besideallthat，doyounotthinkthesightsuggestssomethingof？。Uponapproachingadistantobject，dothevisiblesizeandfigurechangeperpetually，ordotheyappearthesameatalldistances？。Theyareinacontinualchange。。Sightthereforedothnotsuggest，oranywayinformyou，thatthevisibleobjectyouimmediatelyperceiveexistsatadistance，orwillbeperceivedwhenyouadvancefartheronward；therebeingacontinuedseriesofvisibleobjectssucceedingeachotherduringthewholetimeofyourapproach。。Itdothnot；butstillIknow，uponseeinganobject，whatobjectIshallperceiveafterhavingpassedoveracertaindistance:{202}nomatterwhetheritbeexactlythesameorno:thereisstillsomethingofdistancesuggestedinthecase。。GoodHylas，dobutreflectalittleonthepoint，andthentellmewhethertherebeanymoreinitthanthis:fromtheideasyouactuallyperceivebysight，youhavebyexperiencelearnedtocollectwhatotherideasyouwill(accordingtothestandingorderofnature)beaffectedwith，aftersuchacertainsuccessionoftimeandmotion。。Uponthewhole，Itakeittobenothingelse。。Now，isitnotplainthatifwesupposeamanbornblindwasonasuddenmadetosee，hecouldatfirsthavenoexperienceofwhatmaybebysight？。Itis。。Hewouldnotthen，accordingtoyou，haveanynotionofdistanceannexedtothethingshesaw；butwouldtakethemforanewsetofsensations，existingonlyinhismind？。Itisundeniable。。But，tomakeitstillmoreplain:isnotalineturnedendwisetotheeye？。Itis。。Andcanalinesosituatedbeperceivedbysight？。Itcannot。。Dothitnotthereforefollowthatdistanceisnotproperlyandimmediatelyperceivedbysight？。Itshouldseemso。。Again，isityouropinionthatcoloursareatadistance？。Itmustbeacknowledgedtheyareonlyinthemind。。Butdonotcoloursappeartotheeyeascoexistinginthesameplacewithextensionandfigures？。Theydo。。Howcanyouthenconcludefromsightthatfiguresexistwithout，whenyouacknowledgecoloursdonot；thesensibleappearancebeingtheverysamewithregardtoboth？。Iknownotwhattoanswer。。But，allowingthatdistancewastrulyandimmediatelyperceivedbythemind，yetitwouldnotthencefollowitexistedoutofthemind。For，whateverisimmediatelyperceivedisanidea:andcananyideaexistoutofthemind？。Tosupposethatwereabsurd:but，informme，Philonous，canweperceiveorknownothingbesideourideas？。Asfortherationaldeducingofcausesfromeffects，{203}thatisbesideourinquiry。And，bythesensesyoucanbesttellwhetheryouperceiveanythingwhichisnotimmediatelyperceived。AndIaskyou，whetherthethingsimmediatelyperceivedareotherthanyourownsensationsorideas？Youhaveindeedmorethanonce，inthecourseofthisconversation，declaredyourselfonthosepoints；butyouseem，bythislastquestion，tohavedepartedfromwhatyouthenthought。。Tospeakthetruth，Philonous，Ithinktherearetwokindsofobjects:——theoneperceivedimmediately，whicharelikewisecalled；theotherarerealthingsorexternalobjects，perceivedbythemediationofideas，whicharetheirimagesandrepresentations。Now，Iownideasdonotexistwithoutthemind；butthelattersortofobjectsdo。IamsorryIdidnotthinkofthisdistinctionsooner；itwouldprobablyhavecutshortyourdiscourse。。Arethoseexternalobjectsperceivedbysenseorbysomeotherfaculty？。Theyareperceivedbysense。。HowlIsthereanythingperceivedbysensewhichisnotimmediatelyperceived？。Yes，Philonous，insomesortthereis。Forexample，whenIlookonapictureorstatueofJuliusCaesar，Imaybesaidafteramannertoperceivehim(thoughnotimmediately)bymysenses。。Itseemsthenyouwillhaveourideas，whichaloneareimmediatelyperceived，tobepicturesofexternalthings:andthatthesealsoareperceivedbysense，inasmuchastheyhaveaconformityorresemblancetoourideas？。Thatismymeaning。。And，inthesamewaythatJuliusCaesar，inhimselfinvisible，isneverthelessperceivedbysight；realthings，inthemselvesimperceptible，areperceivedbysense。。Intheverysame。。Tellme，Hylas，whenyoubeholdthepictureofJuliusCaesar，doyouseewithyoureyesanymorethansomecoloursandfigures，withacertainsymmetryandcompositionofthewhole？。Nothingelse。。AndwouldnotamanwhohadneverknownanythingofJuliusCaesarseeasmuch？{204}。Hewould。。Consequentlyhehathhissight，andtheuseofit，inasperfectadegreeasyou？。Iagreewithyou。。WhencecomesitthenthatyourthoughtsaredirectedtotheRomanemperor，andhisarenot？Thiscannotproceedfromthesensationsorideasofsensebyyouthenperceived；sinceyouacknowledgeyouhavenoadvantageoverhiminthatrespect。Itshouldseemthereforetoproceedfromreasonandmemory:shoulditnot？。Itshould。。Consequently，itwillnotfollowfromthatinstancethatanythingisperceivedbysensewhichisnot，immediatelyperceived。ThoughIgrantwemay，inoneacceptation，besaidtoperceivesensiblethingsmediatelybysense:thatis，when，fromafrequentlyperceivedconnexion，theimmediateperceptionofideasbyonesensetothemindothers，perhapsbelongingtoanothersense，whicharewonttobeconnectedwiththem。Forinstance，whenIhearacoachdrivealongthestreets，immediatelyIperceiveonlythesound；but，fromtheexperienceIhavehadthatsuchasoundisconnectedwithacoach，Iamsaidtohearthecoach。Itisneverthelessevidentthat，intruthandstrictness，nothingcanbe；andthecoachisnotthenproperlyperceivedbysense，butsuggestedfromexperience。Solikewisewhenwearesaidtoseeared-hotbarofiron；thesolidityandheatoftheironarenottheobjectsofsight，butsuggestedtotheimaginationbythecolourandfigurewhichareproperlyperceivedbythatsense。Inshort，thosethingsaloneareactuallyandstrictlyperceivedbyanysense，whichwouldhavebeenperceivedincasethatsamesensehadthenbeenfirstconferredonus。Asforotherthings，itisplaintheyareonlysuggestedtothemindbyexperience，groundedonformerperceptions。But，toreturntoyourcomparisonofCaesar\'spicture，itisplain，ifyoukeeptothat，youmustholdtherealthings，orarchetypesofourideas，arenotperceivedbysense，butbysomeinternalfacultyofthesoul，asreasonormemory。Iwouldthereforefainknowwhatargumentsyoucandrawfromreasonfortheexistenceofwhatyoucall。Or，whetheryouremembertohaveseenthemformerlyastheyareinthemselves；or，ifyouhaveheardorreadofanyonethatdid。{205}。Isee，Philonous，youaredisposedtoraillery；butthatwillneverconvinceme。。Myaimisonlytolearnfromyouthewaytocomeattheknowledgeof。Whateverweperceiveisperceivedimmediatelyormediately:bysense，orbyreasonandreflexion。But，asyouhaveexcludedsense，prayshewmewhatreasonyouhavetobelievetheirexistence；orwhatyoucanpossiblymakeuseoftoproveit，eithertomineoryourownunderstanding。。Todealingenuously，Philonous，nowIconsiderthepoint，IdonotfindIcangiveyouanygoodreasonforit。But，thusmuchseemsprettyplain，thatitisatleastpossiblesuchthingsmayreallyexist。And，aslongasthereisnoabsurdityinsupposingthem，IamresolvedtobelieveasIdid，tillyoubringgoodreasonstothecontrary。。What!Isitcometothis，thatyouonlytheexistenceofmaterialobjects，andthatyourbeliefisfoundedbarelyonthepossibilityofitsbeingtrue？Thenyouwillhavemebringreasonsagainstit:thoughanotherwouldthinkitreasonabletheproofshouldlieonhimwhoholdstheaffirmative。And，afterall，thisverypointwhichyouarenowresolvedtomaintain，withoutanyreason，isineffectwhatyouhavemorethanonceduringthisdiscourseseengoodreasontogiveup。But，topassoverallthis；ifIunderstandyourightly，yousayourideasdonotexistwithoutthemind，butthattheyarecopies，images，orrepresentations，ofcertainoriginalsthatdo？。Youtakemeright。。Theyarethenlikeexternalthings？。Theyare。。Havethosethingsastableandpermanentnature，independentofoursenses；oraretheyinaperpetualchange，uponourproducinganymotionsinourbodies——suspending，exerting，oraltering，ourfacultiesororgansofsense？。Realthings，itisplain，haveafixedandrealnature，whichremainsthesamenotwithstandinganychangeinoursenses，orinthepostureandmotionofourbodies；whichindeedmayaffecttheideasinourminds，butitwereabsurdtothinktheyhadthesameeffectonthingsexistingwithoutthemind。。Howthenisitpossiblethatthingsperpetuallyfleetingandvariableasourideasshouldbecopiesorimagesofanythingfixedandconstant？Or，inotherwords，sinceallsensible{206}qualities，assize，figure，colour，&c。，thatis，ourideas，arecontinuallychanging，uponeveryalterationinthedistance，medium，orinstrumentsofsensation；howcananydeterminatematerialobjectsbeproperlyrepresentedorpaintedforthbyseveraldistinctthings，eachofwhichissodifferentfromandunliketherest？Or，ifyousayitresemblessomeoneonlyofourideas，howshallwebeabletodistinguishthetruecopyfromallthefalseones？。Iprofess，Philonous，Iamataloss。Iknownotwhattosaytothis。。Butneitheristhisall。Whicharematerialobjectsinthemselves——perceptibleorimperceptible？。Properlyandimmediatelynothingcanbeperceivedbutideas。Allmaterialthings，therefore，areinthemselvesinsensible，andtobeperceivedonlybyourideas。。Ideasthenaresensible，andtheirarchetypesororiginalsinsensible？。Right。。Buthowcanthatwhichissensiblebelikethatwhichisinsensible？Canarealthing，initself，belikea；orarealthing，whichisnot，belikea？Inaword，cananythingbelikeasensationoridea，butanothersensationoridea？。Imustown，Ithinknot。。Isitpossiblethereshouldbeanydoubtonthepoint？Do。younotperfectlyknowyourownideas？。Iknowthemperfectly；sincewhatIdonotperceiveorknowcanbenopartofmyidea。。Consider，therefore，andexaminethem，andthentellmeiftherebeanythinginthemwhichcanexistwithoutthemind:orifyoucanconceiveanythinglikethemexistingwithoutthemind。。Uponinquiry，Ifinditisimpossibleformetoconceiveorunderstandhowanythingbutanideacanbelikeanidea。Anditismostevidentthat。。Youaretherefore，byyourprinciples，forcedtodenytheofsensiblethings；sinceyoumadeittoconsistinanabsoluteexistenceexteriortothemind。Thatistosay，youareadownrightsceptic。SoIhavegainedmypoint，whichwastoshewyourprinciplesledtoScepticism。{207}。ForthepresentIam，ifnotentirelyconvinced，atleastsilenced。。Iwouldfainknowwhatmoreyouwouldrequireinordertoaperfectconviction。Haveyounothadthelibertyofexplainingyourselfallmannerofways？Wereanylittleslipsindiscourselaidholdandinsistedon？Orwereyounotallowedtoretractorreinforceanythingyouhadoffered，asbestservedyourpurpose？Hathnoteverythingyoucouldsaybeenheardandexaminedwithallthefairnessimaginable？Inawordhaveyounotineverypointbeenconvincedoutofyourownmouth？And，ifyoucanatpresentdiscoveranyflawinanyofyourformerconcessions，orthinkofanyremainingsubterfuge，anynewdistinction，colour，orcommentwhatsoever，whydoyounotproduceit？。Alittlepatience，Philonous。Iamatpresentsoamazedtoseemyselfensnared，andasitwereimprisonedinthelabyrinthsyouhavedrawnmeinto，thatonthesuddenitcannotbeexpectedIshouldfindmywayout。Youmustgivemetimetolookaboutmeandrecollectmyself。。Hark；isnotthisthecollegebell？。Itringsforprayers。。Wewillgointhen，ifyouplease，andmeethereagaintomorrowmorning。Inthemeantime，youmayemployyourthoughtsonthismorning\'sdiscourse，andtryifyoucanfindanyfallacyinit，orinventanynewmeanstoextricateyourself。。Agreed。{208}THESECONDDIALOGUE。Ibegyourpardon，Philonous，fornotmeetingyousooner。AllthismorningmyheadwassofilledwithourlateconversationthatIhadnotleisuretothinkofthetimeoftheday，orindeedofanythingelse。。Iamgladyouweresointentuponit，inhopesiftherewereanymistakesinyourconcessions，orfallaciesinmyreasoningsfromthem，youwillnowdiscoverthemtome。。IassureyouIhavedonenothingeversinceIsawyoubutsearchaftermistakesandfallacies，and，withthatview，haveminutelyexaminedthewholeseriesofyesterday\'sdiscourse:butallinvain，forthenotionsitledmeinto，uponreview，appearstillmoreclearandevident；and，themoreIconsiderthem，themoreirresistiblydotheyforcemyassent。。Andisnotthis，thinkyou，asignthattheyaregenuine，thattheyproceedfromnature，andareconformabletorightreason？Truthandbeautyareinthisalike，thatthestrictestsurveysetsthembothofftoadvantage；whilethefalselustreoferroranddisguisecannotendurebeingreviewed，ortoonearlyinspected。。Iownthereisagreatdealinwhatyousay。Norcananyonebemoreentirelysatisfiedofthetruthofthoseoddconsequences，solongasIhaveinviewthereasoningsthatleadtothem。But，whentheseareoutofmythoughts，thereseems，ontheotherhand，somethingsosatisfactory，sonaturalandintelligible，inthemodernwayofexplainingthingsthat，Iprofess，Iknownothowtorejectit。。Iknownotwhatwayyoumean。。Imeanthewayofaccountingforoursensationsorideas。。Howisthat？。Itissupposedthesoulmakesherresidenceinsomepartofthebrain，fromwhichthenervestaketheirrise，andarethenceextendedtoallpartsofthebody；andthatoutwardobjects，bythedifferentimpressionstheymakeontheorgansofsense，communicatecertainvibrativemotionstothenerves；andthesebeingfilledwithspiritspropagatethemtothebrain{209}orseatofthesoul，which，accordingtothevariousimpressionsortracestherebymadeinthebrain，isvariouslyaffectedwithideas。。Andcallyouthisanexplicationofthemannerwherebyweareaffectedwithideas？。Whynot，Philonous？Haveyouanythingtoobjectagainstit？。IwouldfirstknowwhetherIrightlyunderstandyourhypothesis。Youmakecertaintracesinthebraintobethecausesoroccasionsofourideas。Praytellmewhetherbytheyoumeananysensiblething。。WhatelsethinkyouIcouldmean？。Sensiblethingsareallimmediatelyperceivable；andthosethingswhichareimmediatelyperceivableareideas；andtheseexistonlyinthemind。Thusmuchyouhave，ifImistakenot，longsinceagreedto。。Idonotdenyit。。Thebrainthereforeyouspeakof，beingasensiblething，existsonlyinthemind。Now，Iwouldfainknowwhetheryouthinkitreasonabletosupposethatoneideaorthingexistinginthemindoccasionsallotherideas。And，ifyouthinkso，prayhowdoyouaccountfortheoriginofthatprimaryideaorbrainitself？。Idonotexplaintheoriginofourideasbythatbrainwhichisperceivabletosense——thisbeingitselfonlyacombinationofsensibleideas——butbyanotherwhichIimagine。。Butarenotthingsimaginedastrulyasthingsperceived？。Imustconfesstheyare。。Itcomes，therefore，tothesamething；andyouhavebeenallthiswhileaccountingforideasbycertainmotionsorimpressionsofthebrain；thatis，bysomealterationsinanidea，whethersensibleorimaginableitmattersnot。。Ibegintosuspectmyhypothesis。。Besidesspirits，allthatweknoworconceiveareourownideas。When，therefore，yousayallideasareoccasionedbyimpressionsinthebrain，doyouconceivethisbrainorno？Ifyoudo，thenyoutalkofideasimprintedinanideacausingthatsameidea，whichisabsurd。Ifyoudonotconceiveit，youtalkunintelligibly，insteadofformingareasonablehypothesis。{210}。Inowclearlyseeitwasameredream。Thereisnothinginit。。Youneednotbemuchconcernedatit；forafterall，thiswayofexplainingthings，asyoucalledit，couldneverhavesatisfiedanyreasonableman。Whatconnexionistherebetweenamotioninthenerves，andthesensationsofsoundorcolourinthemind？Orhowisitpossibletheseshouldbetheeffectofthat？。ButIcouldneverthinkithadsolittleinitasnowitseemstohave。。Wellthen，areyouatlengthsatisfiedthatnosensiblethingshavearealexistence；andthatyouareintruthanarrantsceptic？。Itistooplaintobedenied。。Look!arenotthefieldscoveredwithadelightfulverdure？Istherenotsomethinginthewoodsandgroves，intheriversandclearsprings，thatsoothes，thatdelights，thattransportsthesoul？Attheprospectofthewideanddeepocean，orsomehugemountainwhosetopislostintheclouds，orofanoldgloomyforest，arenotourmindsfilledwithapleasinghorror？Eveninrocksanddesertsistherenotanagreeablewildness？Howsincereapleasureisittobeholdthenaturalbeautiesoftheearth!Topreserveandrenewour，relishforthem，isnottheveilofnightalternatelydrawnoverherface，anddothshenotchangeherdresswiththeseasons？Howaptlyaretheelementsdisposed!Whatvarietyanduse[inthemeanestproductionsofnature]![4]Whatdelicacy，whatbeauty，whatcontrivance，inanimalandvegetablebodiesIHowexquisitelyareallthingssuited，aswelltotheirparticularends，astoconstituteoppositepartsofthewholeIAnd，whiletheymutuallyaidandsupport，dotheynotalsosetoffandillustrateeachother？Raisenowyourthoughtsfromthisballofearthtoallthosegloriousluminariesthatadornthehigharchofheaven。Themotionandsituationoftheplanets，aretheynotadmirableforuseandorder？Werethose(miscalled)globesonceknowntostray，intheirrepeatedjourneysthroughthepathlessvoid？Dotheynotmeasureareasroundthesuneverproportionedtothetimes？Sofixed，soimmutablearethelawsbywhichtheunseenAuthorofnatureactuatestheuniverse。{211}Howvividandradiantisthelustreofthefixedstars!Howmagnificentandrichthatnegligentprofusionwithwhichtheyappeartobescatteredthroughoutthewholeazurevault!Yet，ifyoutakethetelescope，itbringsintoyoursightanewhostofstarsthatescapethenakedeye。Heretheyseemcontiguousandminute，buttoanearerviewimmenseorbsoffightatvariousdistances，farsunkintheabyssofspace。Nowyoumustcallimaginationtoyouraid。Thefeeblenarrowsensecannotdescryinnumerableworldsrevolvingroundthecentralfires；andinthoseworldstheenergyofanall-perfectMinddisplayedinendlessforms。But，neithersensenorimaginationarebigenoughtocomprehendtheboundlessextent，withallitsglitteringfurniture。Thoughthelabouringmindexertandstraineachpowertoitsutmostreach，therestillstandsoutungraspedasurplusageimmeasurable。Yetallthevastbodiesthatcomposethismightyframe，howdistantandremotesoever，arebysomesecretmechanism，someDivineartandforce，linkedinamutualdependenceandintercoursewitheachother；evenwiththisearth，whichwasalmostsliptfrommythoughtsandlostinthecrowdofworlds。Isnotthewholesystemimmense，beautiful，gloriousbeyondexpressionandbeyondthought!Whattreatment，then，dothosephilosophersdeserve，whowoulddeprivethesenobleanddelightfulscenesofall？HowshouldthosePrinciplesbeentertainedthatleadustothinkallthevisiblebeautyofthecreationafalseimaginaryglare？Tobeplain，canyouexpectthisScepticismofyourswillnotbethoughtextravagantlyabsurdbyallmenofsense？。Othermenmaythinkastheyplease；butforyourpartyouhavenothingtoreproachmewith。Mycomfortis，youareasmuchascepticasIam。。There，Hylas，Imustbegleavetodifferfromyou。。What!Haveyouallalongagreedtothepremises，anddoyounowdenytheconclusion，andleavemetomaintainthoseparadoxesbymyselfwhichyouledmeinto？Thissurelyisnotfair。。denythatIagreedwithyouinthosenotionsthatledtoScepticism。Youindeedsaidtheofsensiblethingsconsistedin，ordistinctfromtheirbeingperceived。Andpursuanttothisnotionofreality，areobligedtodenysensiblethingsany{212}realexistence:thatis，accordingtoyourowndefinition，youprofessyourselfasceptic。ButIneithersaidnorthoughttherealityofsensiblethingswastobedefinedafterthatmanner。Tomeitisevidentforthereasonsyouallowof，thatsensiblethingscannotexistotherwisethaninamindorspirit。WhenceIconclude，notthattheyhavenorealexistence，butthat。，seeingtheydependnotonmythought，andhaveallexistencedistinctfrombeingperceivedbyme，。Assure，therefore，asthesensibleworldreallyexists，sosureisthereaninfiniteomnipresentSpiritwhocontainsandsupportsit。。What!ThisisnomorethanIandallChristianshold；nay，andallotherstoowhobelievethereisaGod，andthatHeknowsandcomprehendsallthings。。Aye，buthereliesthedifference。MencommonlybelievethatallthingsareknownorperceivedbyGod，becausetheybelievethebeingofaGod；whereasI，ontheotherside，immediatelyandnecessarilyconcludethebeingofaGod，becauseallsensiblethingsmustbeperceivedbyHim。。But，solongasweallbelievethesamething，whatmatterisithowwecomebythatbelief？。Butneitherdoweagreeinthesameopinion。Forphilosophers，thoughtheyacknowledgeallcorporealbeingstobeperceivedbyGod，yettheyattributetothemanabsolutesubsistencedistinctfromtheirbeingperceivedbyanymindwhatever；whichIdonot。Besides，istherenodifferencebetweensaying，，；andsaying，；，，:？Thisfurnishesyouwithadirectandimmediatedemonstration，fromamostevidentprinciple，ofthe。Divinesandphilosophershadprovedbeyondallcontroversy，fromthebeautyandusefulnessoftheseveralpartsofthecreation，thatitwastheworkmanshipofGod。Butthat——settingasideallhelpofastronomyandnaturalphilosophy，allcontemplationofthecontrivance，order，andadjustmentofthings——aninfiniteMindshouldbenecessarilyinferredfromthebare，isanadvantagetothemonlywhohavemadethiseasyreflexion:thatthesensibleworldisthatwhichweperceivebyourseveralsenses；andthatnothingisperceivedbythesensesbesideideas；andthatno{213}ideaorarchetypeofanideacanexistotherwisethaninamind。Youmaynow，withoutanylaborioussearchintothesciences，withoutanysubtletyofreason，ortediouslengthofdiscourse，opposeandbafflethemoststrenuousadvocateforAtheism。Thosemiserablerefuges，whetherinaneternalsuccessionofunthinkingcausesandeffects，orinafortuitousconcourseofatoms；thosewildimaginationsofVanini，Hobbes，andSpinoza:inaword，thewholesystemofAtheism，isitnotentirelyoverthrown，bythissinglereflexionontherepugnancyincludedinsupposingthewhole，oranypart，eventhemostrudeandshapeless，ofthevisibleworld，toexistwithoutamind？Letanyoneofthoseabettorsofimpietybutlookintohisownthoughts，andtheretryifhecanconceivehowsomuchasarock，adesert，achaos，orconfusedjumbleofatoms；howanythingatall，eithersensibleorimaginable，canexistindependentofaMind，andheneedgonofarthertobeconvincedofhisfolly。Cananythingbefairerthantoputadisputeonsuchanissue，andleaveittoamanhimselftoseeifhecanconceive，eveninthought，whatheholdstobetrueinfact，andfromanotionaltoallowitarealexistence？。Itcannotbedeniedthereissomethinghighlyserviceabletoreligioninwhatyouadvance。Butdoyounotthinkitlooksverylikeanotionentertainedbysomeeminentmoderns，of？。Iwouldgladlyknowthatopinion:prayexplainittome。。Theyconceivethatthesoul，beingimmaterial，isincapableofbeingunitedwithmaterialthings，soastoperceivetheminthemselves；butthatsheperceivesthembyherunionwiththesubstanceofGod，which，beingspiritual，isthereforepurelyintelligible，orcapableofbeingtheimmediateobjectofaspirit\'sthought。BesidestheDivineessencecontainsinitperfectionscorrespondenttoeachcreatedbeing；andwhichare，forthatreason，propertoexhibitorrepresentthemtothemind。。Idonotunderstandhowourideas，whicharethingsaltogetherpassiveandinert，canbetheessence，oranypart(orlikeanypart)oftheessenceorsubstanceofGod，whoisan{214}impassive，indivisible，pure，activebeing。Manymoredifficultiesandobjectionstherearewhichoccuratfirstviewagainstthishypothesis；butIshallonlyaddthatitisliabletoalltheabsurditiesofthecommonhypothesis，inmakingacreatedworldexistotherwisethaninthemindofaSpirit。Besidesallwhichithaththispeculiartoitself；thatitmakesthatmaterialworldservetonopurpose。And，ifitpassforagoodargumentagainstotherhypothesesinthesciences，thattheysupposeNature，ortheDivinewisdom，tomakesomethinginvain，ordothatbytediousroundaboutmethodswhichmighthavebeenperformedinamuchmoreeasyandcompendiousway，whatshallwethinkofthathypothesiswhichsupposesthewholeworldmadeinvain？。Butwhatsayyou？ArenotyoutooofopinionthatweseeallthingsinGod？IfImistakenot，whatyouadvancecomesnearit。。[Fewmenthink；yetallhaveopinions。Hencemen\'sopinionsaresuperficialandconfused。Itisnothingstrangethattenetswhichinthemselvesareeversodifferent，shouldneverthelessbeconfoundedwitheachother，bythosewhodonotconsiderthemattentively。IshallnotthereforebesurprisedifsomemenimaginethatIrunintotheenthusiasmofMalebranche；thoughintruthIamveryremotefromit。Hebuildsonthemostabstractgeneralideas，whichIentirelydisclaim。Heassertsanabsoluteexternalworld，whichIdeny。Hemaintainsthatwearedeceivedbyoursenses，and，knownottherealnaturesorthetrueformsandfiguresofextendedbeings；ofallwhichIholdthedirectcontrary。SothatuponthewholetherearenoPrinciplesmorefundamentallyoppositethanhisandmine。Itmustbeownedthat][5]IentirelyagreewithwhattheholyScripturesaith，"ThatinGodweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing。"ButthatweseethingsinHisessence，afterthemannerabovesetforth，Iamfarfrombelieving。Takehereinbriefmymeaning:——ItisevidentthatthethingsIperceivearemyownideas，andthatnoideacanexistunlessitbeinamind:norisitlessplainthattheseideasorthingsbymeperceived，eitherthemselvesortheirarchetypes，existindependentlyofmymind，sinceIknowmyselfnottobetheirauthor，itbeingoutofmypowertodetermineatpleasurewhatparticularideasIshallbeaffectedwithuponopeningmyeyesorears:theymustthereforeexistinsomeotherMind，whose{215}Willitistheyshouldbeexhibitedtome。Thethings，Isay，immediatelyperceivedareideasorsensations，callthemwhichyouwill。Buthowcananyideaorsensationexistin，orbeproducedby，anythingbutamindorspirit？Thisindeedisinconceivable。Andtoassertthatwhichisinconceivableistotalknonsense:isitnot？。Withoutdoubt。。But，ontheotherhand，itisveryconceivablethattheyshouldexistinandbeproducedbyaspirit；sincethisisnomorethanIdailyexperienceinmyself，inasmuchasIperceivenumberlessideas；and，byanactofmywill，canformagreatvarietyofthem，andraisethemupinmyimagination:though，itmustbeconfessed，thesecreaturesofthefancyarenotaltogethersodistinct，sostrong，vivid，andpermanent，asthoseperceivedbymysenses——whichlatterarecalled。FromallwhichIconclude，。，fromthevariety，order，andmannerofthese，Iconclude，，，。itwell；Idonotsay，IseethingsbyperceivingthatwhichrepresentsthemintheintelligibleSubstanceofGod。ThisIdonotunderstand；butIsay，thethingsbymeperceivedareknownbytheunderstanding，andproducedbythewillofaninfiniteSpirit。Andisnotallthismostplainandevident？Isthereanymoreinitthanwhatalittleobservationinourownminds，andthatwhichpassethinthem，notonlyenablesustoconceive，butalsoobligesustoacknowledge。。IthinkIunderstandyouveryclearly；andowntheproofyougiveofaDeityseemsnolessevidentthanitissurprising。But，allowingthatGodisthesupremeanduniversalCauseofanthings，yet，maytherenotbestillaThirdNaturebesidesSpiritsandIdeas？Maywenotadmitasubordinateandlimitedcauseofourideas？Inaword，maytherenotforallthatbe？。HowoftenmustIinculcatethesamething？Youallowthethingsimmediatelyperceivedbysensetoexistnowherewithoutthemind；butthereisnothingperceivedbysensewhichisnotperceivedimmediately:thereforethereisnothingsensiblethatexistswithoutthemind。TheMatter，therefore，whichyoustillinsistonissomethingintelligible，Isuppose；somethingthatmaybediscoveredbyreason，andnotbysense。。Youareintheright。{216}。PrayletmeknowwhatreasoningyourbeliefofMatterisgroundedon；andwhatthisMatteris，inyourpresentsenseofit。。Ifindmyselfaffectedwithvariousideas，whereofIknowIamnotthecause；neitheraretheythecauseofthemselves，orofoneanother，orcapableofsubsistingbythemselves，asbeingaltogetherinactive，fleeting，dependentbeings。Theyhavethereforecausedistinctfrommeandthem:ofwhichIpretendtoknownomorethanthatitis。Andthisthing，whateveritbe，IcallMatter。。Tellme，Hylas，hatheveryonealibertytochangethecurrentpropersignificationattachedtoacommonnameinanylanguage？Forexample，supposeatravellershouldtellyouthatinacertaincountrymenpassunhurtthroughthefire；and，uponexplaininghimself，youfoundhemeantbythewordfirethatwhichotherscall。Or，ifheshouldassertthattherearetreesthatwalkupontwolegs，meaningmenbytheterm。Wouldyouthinkthisreasonable？。No；Ishouldthinkitveryabsurd。Commoncustomisthestandardofproprietyinlanguage。Andforanymantoaffectspeakingimproperlyistoperverttheuseofspeech，andcanneverservetoabetterpurposethantoprotractandmultiplydisputes，wherethereisnodifferenceinopinion。。Anddothnot，inthecommoncurrentacceptationoftheword，signifyanextended，solid，moveable，unthinking，inactiveSubstance？。Itdoth。。And，hathitnotbeenmadeevidentthatnosubstancecanpossiblyexist？And，thoughitshouldbeallowedtoexist，yethowcanthatwhichisbea；orthatwhichisbea？Youmay，indeed，ifyouplease，annextothewordacontrarymeaningtowhatisvulgarlyreceived；andtellmeyouunderstandbyit，anunextended，thinking，activebeing，whichisthecauseofourideas。Butwhatelseisthisthantoplaywithwords，andrunintothatveryfaultyoujustnowcondemnedwithsomuchreason？Idobynomeansfindfaultwithyourreasoning，inthatyoucollectacausefromthe:IdenythatcausededuciblebyreasoncanproperlybetermedMatter。。Thereisindeedsomethinginwhatyousay。ButIam{217}afraidyoudonotthoroughlycomprehendmymeaning。IwouldbynomeansbethoughttodenythatGod，oraninfiniteSpirit，istheSupremeCauseofallthings。AllIcontendforis，that，subordinatetotheSupremeAgent，thereisacauseofalimitedandinferiornature，whichintheproductionofourideas，notbyanyactofwill，orspiritualefficiency，butbythatkindofactionwhichbelongstoMatter，viz。。。Ifindyouareateveryturnrelapsingintoyouroldexplodedconceit，ofamoveable，andconsequentlyanextended，substance，existingwithoutthemind。What!Haveyoualreadyforgottenyouwereconvinced；orareyouwillingIshouldrepeatwhathasbeensaidonthathead？Intruththisisnotfairdealinginyou，stilltosupposethebeingofthatwhichyouhavesooftenacknowledgedtohavenobeing。But，nottoinsistfartheronwhathasbeensolargelyhandled，Iaskwhetherallyourideasarenotperfectlypassiveandinert，includingnothingofactioninthem。。Theyare。。Andaresensiblequalitiesanythingelsebutideas？。HowoftenhaveIacknowledgedthattheyarenot。。Butisnotasensiblequality？。Itis。。Consequentlyitisnoaction？。Iagreewithyou。AndindeeditisveryplainthatwhenIstirmyfinger，itremainspassive；butmywillwhichproducedthemotionisactive。。Now，Idesiretoknow，inthefirstplace，whether，motionbeingallowedtobenoaction，youcanconceiveanyactionbesidesvolition:and，inthesecondplace，whethertosaysomethingandconceivenothingbenottotalknonsense:and，lastly，whether，havingconsideredthepremises，youdonotperceivethattosupposeanyefficientoractiveCauseofourideas，otherthan，ishighlyabsurdandunreasonable？。Igiveupthepointentirely。But，thoughMattermaynotbeacause，yetwhathindersitsbeingan，subservienttothesupremeAgentintheproductionofourideas？。Aninstrumentsayyou；praywhatmaybethefigure，springs，wheels，andmotions，ofthatinstrument？。ThoseIpretendtodeterminenothingof，boththesubstanceanditsqualitiesbeingentirelyunknowntome。。What？Youarethenofopinionitismadeupof{218}unknownparts，thatithathunknownmotions，andanunknownshape？。Idonotbelievethatithathanyfigureormotionatall，beingalreadyconvinced，thatnosensiblequalitiescanexistinanunperceivingsubstance。。Butwhatnotionisitpossibletoframeofaninstrumentvoidofallsensiblequalities，evenextensionitself？。Idonotpretendtohaveanynotionofit。。Andwhatreasonhaveyoutothinkthisunknown，thisinconceivableSomewhatdothexist？IsitthatyouimagineGodcannotactaswellwithoutit；orthatyoufindbyexperiencetheuseofsomesuchthing，whenyouformideasinyourownmind？。Youarealwaysteasingmeforreasonsofmybelief。Praywhatreasonshaveyounottobelieveit？