three dialogues-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
extension。 Now; though it be acknowledged that and
; consisting merely in the relation which other extended
beings have to the parts of our own bodies; do not really inhere
in the substances themselves; yet nothing obliges us to hold the
same with regard to ; which is something
abstracted from and ; from this or that particular
magnitude or figure。 So likewise as to motion; and
are altogether relative to the succession of ideas in our own
minds。 But; it doth not follow; because those modifications of
motion exist not without the mind; that therefore absolute motion
abstracted from them doth not。
。 Pray what is it that distinguishes one motion; or
one part of extension; from another? Is it not something
sensible; as some degree of swiftness or slowness; some certain
magnitude or figure peculiar to each?
。 I think so。
。 These qualities; therefore; stripped of all sensible
properties; are without all specific and numerical differences;
as the schools call them。
。 They are。
。 That is to say; they are extension in general; and
motion in general。
。 Let it be so。
。 But it is a universally received maxim that
。 How then can motion in
general; or extension in general; exist in any corporeal
substance? {193}
。 I will take time to solve your difficulty。
。 But I think the point may be speedily decided。
Without doubt you can tell whether you are able to frame this or
that idea。 Now I am content to put our dispute on this issue。 If
you can frame in your thoughts a distinct of
motion or extension; divested of all those sensible modes; as
swift and slow; great and small; round and square; and the like;
which are acknowledged to exist only in the mind; I will then
yield the point you contend for。 But if you cannot; it will be
unreasonable on your side to insist any longer upon what you have
no notion of。
。 To confess ingenuously; I cannot。
。 Can you even separate the ideas of extension and
motion from the ideas of all those qualities which they who make
the distinction term ?
。 What! is it not an easy matter to consider extension
and motion by themselves; abstracted from all other sensible
qualities? Pray how do the mathematicians treat of them?
。 I acknowledge; Hylas; it is not difficult to form
general propositions and reasonings about those qualities;
without mentioning any other; and; in this sense; to consider or
treat of them abstractedly。 But; how doth it follow that; because
I can pronounce the word by itself; I can form the idea
of it in my mind exclusive of body? or; because theorems may be
made of extension and figures; without any mention of or
; or any other sensible mode or quality; that therefore it
is possible such an abstract idea of extension; without any
particular size or figure; or sensible quality;'3 ' 'should be
distinctly formed; and apprehended by the mind? Mathematicians
treat of quantity; without regarding what other sensible。
qualities it is attended with; as being altogether indifferent to
their demonstrations。 But; when laying aside the words; they
contemplate the bare ideas; I believe you will find; they are not
the pure abstracted ideas of extension。
。 But what say you to ? May not
abstracted ideas be framed by that faculty?
。 Since I cannot frame abstract ideas at all; it is
plain I cannot frame them by the help of ; {194}
whatsoever faculty you understand by those words。 Besides; not to
inquire into the nature of pure intellect and its spiritual
objects; as ; ; ; or the like; thus much
seems manifest that sensible things are only to be perceived
by sense; or represented by the imagination。 Figures; therefore;
and extension; being originally perceived by sense; do not belong
to pure intellect: but; for your farther satisfaction; try if you
can frame the idea of any figure; abstracted from all
particularities of size; or even from other sensible qualities。
。 Let me think a little I do not find that I can。
。 And can you think it possible that should really
exist in nature which implies a repugnancy in its conception?
。 By no means。
。 Since therefore it is impossible even for the mind
to disunite the ideas of extension and motion from all other
sensible qualities; doth it not follow; that where the one exist
there necessarily the other exist likewise?
。 It should seem so。
。 Consequently; the very same arguments which you
admitted as conclusive against the Secondary Qualities are;
without any farther application of force; against the Primary
too。 Besides; if you will trust your senses; is it not plain all
sensible qualities coexist; or to them appear as being in the
same place? Do they ever represent a motion; or figure; as being
divested of all other visible and tangible qualities?
。 You need say no more on this head。 I am free to own;
if there be no secret error or oversight in our proceedings
hitherto; that all sensible qualities are alike to be denied
existence without the mind。 But; my fear is that I have been too
liberal in my former concessions; or overlooked some fallacy or
other。 In short; I did not take time to think。
。 For that matter; Hylas; you may take what time you
please in reviewing the progress of our inquiry。 You are at
liberty to recover any slips you might have made; or offer
whatever you have omitted which makes for your first opinion。
。 One great oversight I take to be this that I did
not sufficiently distinguish the from the 。
Now; though this latter may not exist without the mind; yet it
will not thence follow that the former cannot。
。 What object do you mean? the object of the senses?
。 The same。
。 It is then immediately perceived? {195}
。 Right。
。 Make me to understand the difference between what is
immediately perceived and a sensation。
。 The sensation I take to be an act of the mind
perceiving; besides which; there is something perceived; and this
I call the 。 For example; there is red and yellow on that
tulip。 But then the act of perceiving those colours is in me
only; and not in the tulip。
。 What tulip do you speak of? Is it that which you
see?
。 The same。
。 And what do you see beside colour; figure; and
extension?
。 Nothing。
。 What you would say then is that the red and yellow
are coexistent with the extension; is it not?
。 That is not all; I would say they have a real
existence without the mind; in some unthinking substance。
。 That the colours are really in the tulip which I see
is manifest。 Neither can it be denied that this tulip may exist
independent of your mind or mine; but; that any immediate object
of the senses; that is; any idea; or combination of ideas
should exist in an unthinking substance; or exterior to
minds; is in itself an evident contradiction。 Nor can I imagine
how this follows from what you said just now; to wit; that the
red and yellow were on the tulip ; since you do not
pretend to that unthinking substance。
。 You have an artful way; Philonous; of diverting our
inquiry from the subject。
。 I see you have no mind to be pressed that way。 To
return then to your distinction between and ;
if I take you right; you distinguish in every perception two
things; the one an action of the mind; the other not。
。 True。
。 And this action cannot exist in; or belong to; any
unthinking thing; but; whatever beside is implied in a perception
may? {196}
。 That is my meaning。
。 So that if there was a perception without any act of
the mind; it we