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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，orexteriorto

minds，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。IoncethoughtI

understoodwellenoughwhatwasmeantbyMatter\'ssupportingaccidents。Butnow，themoreIthinkonitthelesscanI

comprehendit: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；notconsideringthatI

myselfconceiveditallthewhile。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:isnot

alineturnedendwisetotheeye？

。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，fromtheexperienceI

havehadthatsuchasoundisconnectedwithacoach，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。I

wouldthereforefainknowwhatargumentsyoucandrawfromreasonfortheexistenceofwhatyoucall。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，thatyouonly

theexistenceofmaterialobjects，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，I

profess，Iknownothowtorejectit。

。Iknownotwhatwayyoumean。

。Imeanthewayofaccountingforoursensationsorideas。

。Howisthat？

。Itissupposedthesoulmakesherresidenceinsomepartofthebrain，fromwhichthenervestaketheirrise，andarethenceextendedtoallpartsofthebody；andthatoutwardobjects，bythedifferentimpressionstheymakeontheorgansofsense，communicatecertainvibrativemotionstothenerves；andthesebeingfilledwithspiritspropagatethemtothebrain{209}

orseatofthesoul，which，accordingtothevariousimpressionsortracestherebymadeinthebrain，isvariouslyaffectedwithideas。

。Andcallyouthisanexplicationofthemannerwherebyweareaffectedwithideas？

。Whynot，Philonous？Haveyouanythingtoobjectagainstit？

。IwouldfirstknowwhetherIrightlyunderstandyourhypothesis。Youmakecertaintracesinthebraintobethecausesoroccasionsofourideas。Praytellmewhetherbythe

youmeananysensiblething。

。WhatelsethinkyouIcouldmean？

。Sensiblethingsareallimmediatelyperceivable；andthosethingswhichareimmediatelyperceivableareideas；andtheseexistonlyinthemind。Thusmuchyouhave，ifImistakenot，longsinceagreedto。

。Idonotdenyit。

。Thebrainthereforeyouspeakof，beingasensiblething，existsonlyinthemind。Now，Iwouldfainknowwhetheryouthinkitreasonabletosupposethatoneideaorthingexistinginthemindoccasionsallotherideas。And，ifyouthinkso，prayhowdoyouaccountfortheoriginofthatprimaryideaorbrainitself？

。Idonotexplaintheoriginofourideasbythatbrainwhichisperceivabletosense——thisbeingitselfonlyacombinationofsensibleideas——butbyanotherwhichIimagine。

。Butarenotthingsimaginedastruly

asthingsperceived？

。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，whereofI

knowIamnotthecause；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，hathitnotbeenmadeevidentthatno

substancecanpossiblyexist？And，thoughitshouldbeallowedtoexist，yethowcanthatwhichisbea；orthatwhichisbea？Youmay，indeed，ifyouplease，annextothewordacontrarymeaningtowhatisvulgarlyreceived；andtellmeyouunderstandbyit，anunextended，thinking，activebeing，whichisthecauseofourideas。Butwhatelseisthisthantoplaywithwords，andrunintothatveryfaultyoujustnowcondemnedwithsomuchreason？

Idobynomeansfindfaultwithyourreasoning，inthatyoucollectacausefromthe:Idenythat

causededuciblebyreasoncanproperlybetermedMatter。

。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？