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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 10, page id 778263916:0026
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Noinnate Principles in the Mind.
BookI.
Prerosatiro of Numbers atone, and Propolitions made about several. ot
them: Bat cven natural Philosophy, and aIl the ortier Sciences attord
Propolitions, Which are sure ro meet rith asent as loon as chey are un
derstood. That tuo Bodies cannot be in the same place, is a Fruth thaE
noBody any more sticks at, than at that Maxim, That it is impossible for the
same thing tobe, and not to be; ThatWhite is not Black, That a Square is
not a Circle, That Tellonness is not Sweetness: Fhele, and a million oF o-
ther such Propositions, as mans at least, as re have distinct Lacas, eve
ry Man in his WViES, at Arsthearino, and bnowino erhat che Names Rand
For, mustneceslarily assent to. II then these Men ill De true to their
Orn Rule, and have assent at first hearine and understandine the Terms,
eo beamarte ofinnate, they must allor, not only as mans innate Propo-
Titions, 25 Men have distinet Ideas; but as manr as Men ean mate Pro-
politions, wherein different Idea s are denied one ot another. Since eve-
ry Provoliion, Wherein one difterent Idea is denicd of anotner, ill as
certainsy sind ABent at sirst hearins and understanding the Terms, as this
seneral one, It is impossible for the same to be, and not tobe; Oxthat
irtrich is the foundation ot it, and is the casier understood of the tron
The same is not different: By Wtrich ACcounE, ther willhave Legions ot
innare Propositions oF this one Cort, without mentioninq any othier. BuE
Tince no Propolition can beinnate, unlels the Idea sabour wtrichic is, DC
innate, This Will be, to suppose allour Ideas of Colours, Sounds, Factes,
Ficures, (5c. innate; chan wrhich there cannot be any thins more oppo
site to Reason and Experience. Universal and ready altent, upon hearine
and understandins the Terms; is (I GranL) a marki of selferidence: buE
selFevidence, dependins noc on innare impressions, bur on somechins
else (as We Maller hereatrer) belones to several Proxolitions, Whicta
no Bodrras vet so extravagant, as to pretend ro beinnate.
8. X9. Nor let it be said, That chole more parricular selfevident Propo.
Stions rhichare assented eo at Frst hearins, a5 That One and Two are equat
+0Three; ThatCreen is not Red, Ccc are receired asthe Consequences ot thole
more universal Propostions, Wrhrich are look d on as innate Principles:
since any one, Wrho ill bur calce the Pains to observe, irhat passes in the
CInderstandine, ill certainly find, That chele, and the litre less general
Propositions, are certainty bnorn and firmly assented to, by those, who
are utterly ignorant ofthole more general Maxims; and 10, bcinq carlier
in the Nlind chan chose (a5 thez are called) frst Principles, cannot one
eo themthe ABene, Wherewith ches are receired at trst hearing.
5. 20. IFit De said, that thele Propositions, vix. Twoand Tuo are equal to
Fours Red is not blue, ecc. are noc general Maxiis, nor of any great use. P an-
fiver, Thac makres nochine to the Argument ot universalaltent, upon hrear-
ins and understandins. For il that be the certain marte of innate, wtrate-
ver Propolition can De Found, that receires general altent, as soon as
heard and understood, that must bo admittedfor an innate Proxosition
ad Well asthis Maxim, That it is impossible for the Came thine to be, and
not to be, ther beins upon this Crround equal. And as to the difference ot
beins more general, that maties this Maxim more remore trom being in-
nate; thole general and abstraet Ideas, beine more strangers to our trst
Apprehentions, than thole oF more parricular selF- evident Propolitions;
and theretore, tis longer Belore they are admirted and assented to by tho
crorins Onderstandins. And as to the ulesulnels of chese magnified Ma-
Xims, that perhaps will not be Found (0 great as is generally conceived,
Wrhen it comes in its due place to De more fully considered.
S.2L. BUE WChavONOcy et done wichassentine 20 Propositions at sirst hearine
anc