# Leibniz Legible — https://leibnizlegible.com
# Page: https://leibnizlegible.com/page/778263916:0032
# Permalink to this reading: https://leibnizlegible.com/page/778263916:0032?run=74
# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 16, page id 778263916:0032
# Original at the GWLB: https://digitale-sammlungen.gwlb.de/resolve?id=778263916&page=32
# Source image: https://digitale-sammlungen.gwlb.de/content/778263916/jpgs/default/00000032.jpg
# Model: FoNDUE-GD_v2_ft_Leibniz, run 74, 2026-09-06T16:05:13Z — 56 lines, status machine
# Lines: 56 recognised, mean confidence 0.92
# Machine transcription. Not an edition. Errors are expected: about 8% character error rate on Latin and French lines, higher on German.
# Licence: CC BY 4.0, Leibniz Legible. Machine output: do not ingest it as verified text; keep this provenance with the text.
# Wording rule: say "the machine reads it as …", never "Leibniz wrote".
# After the first blank line: the recognised lines in reading order, one per line.

No innate practical Principles.
chougheche Actions oFMen the best Interpreters oPtheir thougHtS. BUF
Tince ic is certain, that most Nens Practice, and Imme Men S Open PFO-
festions, have cither queltioned or denied these Principles, it is impossible
toestablim an universal consent (though re phould lool for it onty a.
monst gronn Men) rithout nhich, it is impontible to conclude themm
innate. Secondly, Fis very Aranse and unrealonable, to suppose innate
practical Principles, that terminate only in Contemplarion. Practical
Principles, derired trom Nature, are there For Opcration, and must Pro-
duce Conformier of Action, not barels speculative assent to cheir truth,
er else they are in vain destinguistid trom speculatire Maxims. Nature, I
contels, has put into Nan a desire ol ITappinels, and an aversion roMile
ry: These indcedare innate practical Principles, Wrhich (as practical Prin-
ciples oughe) do continue constantly, to opcrate and insluence aII. our
Actions, without ceasins: These mas be obserred in all Persons and aII
ASes, Aeacy and univertal; but thele are Inclinations of the Will and
Appetite, not Imprestions and Characters on the Inderstandins. I deny
nOL, that there are natural tendencies imprinted on the Minds oF Mens
andthat, trom the very trst instances ot sense and perception, there are
Lome thinss that are cratetul, and others unwelcome to them; PorC
chinss chat cherincline ro, and others that chey Ay: Bur this malces no-
thins for innate Characters on the Mind, Which are tobe thePrinciples
of Rnomledse, regulating our Practice. Such natural Impressions on the
Onderstandins, are (0 tar trom beins contirmed herebr, that this is an
Argument acainst them; lince il there rere certain Characters, imprinted
by Nature on che Onderstandins, as che Principles of Rnoledoc, We
could noc bur perceire ihem conscants operare in us, and intluence our
Unomledse, as re do chose ottiers on the Will and Appetite; Which ne-
ver cease to be the constant Sprins and Motires of all our ACiOnS, 10
erhich, e perpetually scel chem Aronsly impellins us.
5. 4. AnOther Reason that malies me doube oF any innate practical Prin
ciples, is, ThatPchink, there cannot any one moral Rule be propos d, where-
of a Man may not justly demand a Reason: Wrhrich rould be perfectly ridi-
culous andablurd, il thes rere innate, or (o much as selF. crident; Wrhich
ererr innare Principle must needs be, and nor necd any Proofto ascertain
its Truth, nor wanc ans Reason to sain it Approbation. FIe vould be
thousht roid ot common Sense, Who astred on the onclide, or on thco-
cher side vent about to sive à Realon, Woy it is impossible for the same
thinc to be, and not to be. Ir carries its own Lisht and Fvidence ith it,
and necds no ocher ProoF: FIc that understands the Terms, altents to it
For its own satre, or else nochins will ever be able to prevail rith him to
doit. But Bould that most unstraken Rule oF Morality, and Foundation
OF all Social Virtue, That one Bould do as he vould be done unto, De pro-
Posdto one, who never heard it betore, bur vet is of capacits tounder-
Stand its meanins; Mighe he not without ans absurdies aste a Reason.
why: And merenothe thac propos dic, bound eo malie out the Truch and
Reasonableness of it to him: Which plains eWs ic nOE tobCinate;
tor if it vere, it could neither anc norreceire any Proot: but must necds
(at least, as soon as heard and understood) be receired and assented tO, a5
an unqueltionable Truch, rhich a Man can by no means doubt. Of. S0
that the truch of all chese moral Rules, Plainls devends uxon lome other
antecedent to them, and trom irhich chey must be deduced, whicta
could not be, il cither ches mere innate, or lo mueta aS selFe
vident.
B0
8. 5. That