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An Analytical Abridgmen; Essay Concerning Human Understanding
An Analytical Abridgmen Essay Concerning Human Understanding Author:John Locke This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1808. Excerpt: ... creation. In the mean time, it is an over-valuing of ourselves to reduce all things to the narrow measure of our capacities, and to conc... more »lude that impossible to be done, the manner of doing which exceeds our comprehension: it is;pQ make our comprehension infinite, or God finite, when what he can do is limited to what we can conceive. If we understand not the operations of our finite minds, let us not expect to comprehend the infinite mind. OF OUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXISTENCE OF OTHER THINGS. OUR knowledge of the existence of any thing, except God and ourselves, comes only by sensation; for as there is no necessary connexion of real existence with any idea a man has in his memory, the existence of any other being is only known to him, when it actually operates on him so as to make itself perceived. The idea of any thing no more proves the existence of that thing, than the picture of a man proves his existence, or than the visions of a dream make a true history. The notice we have by our senses of the existence of things without us, though not altogether so certain as our intuitive knowledge, or as the deductions of our reason from the clear abstract ideas of our own minds, is yet an assurance that deserves the name of Knowledge. I think no one can seriously be so sceptical as to doubt of the existence of those things which he sees and feels: such an one at least will never have any controversy with me, since he can never be sure that I say any thing contrary to his opinion. I think that I have assurance enough of the existence of external things, since by their different application I can produce in myself both pleasure and pain, which is one great concern of my present state. We cannot talk of knowledge itself but by the help of those faculties which are fit...« less