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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 98, page id 778263916:0114
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CHIAF. X
Of Number.
S. L. A MonSstalthe Ldeas We hare, as there is none suggested to the
L Mind By more ways, so there is none more simple than that os
Onity, or One, it has no thacon of Variety nor Compolition in it:
everr Objectour Senses are emplored about; everr Ldea in our Vnder-
Candinos; every Thouohe ol our Minds brinss chis idea aloris withit:
And theretore it is the most intimate to our ThoughtS, a5 Wellas it is in
its Rorcement to all other things, the most univertal Idea re have: POr
Number applies it selF to Men, Angels, Actions, ThoughEs, cvery thins,
that cither doth exist, or ean beimagined.
5. 2. By repeatins this Ldea in our Minds, and addins the Reperitions
togethier, ere come by the complex Ideas of the Modes of it. Thus by ad
dins one to onc, re hare the complex Idea oF tro; by puttins ervelve
Onites together, we have the complex Idea oF a dozen; and (0 Ot a Score,
Or a Milion, Or any other Number.
5.3. The simples modes of Numberare of all ocher the most distinct; every
che least Variation, wrhich is an unite, mateins each Combination, as elcar-
ls different srom that which axproacheth nearest to it, as the most re-
mote; tro beins as diltinet trom one, as Tvohundred; and the Ideas ot
Tro, as dictinc trom the Idea ot Three, as theMagnitude oF the wrhole
Farchi is trom that ot amice. This is not so in other simple Modeo, in
ertrich it is not (0 easie, nor, perhaps, possible for us ro distinguistr becvixt
erro approaching ideas, Which vet are really different. P’or who will
underrake to Aind à difference betmeen the white of this Paper, and that ol
ehe next decrocto it: Or can form diltinct Sdeas of every thelcast excess
in Fxconsion.
5. 4. The Clearnels and Distinctness of each mode of Number Trom all 0.
ahers, oven thole that approach nearest, alles me apt ro chintc, that De-
monstrations in Numbers, il chiey are not more evident and exact than in
Excension, ret they are more general in their ule, and more dexerminate
in their Application. Becaule ehe Ldeas ot Numbers are more precile, and
dictinguictrable than in Extension; irhere erory Equalies and tixcels aro
not localie to De observed, or mealured, becaule our Ptroughes cannot in
Space arrire at any determined smallnels berond wrtrich it cannot 50, a5 in
at nite; and cherolore the quantits or proportion ol ans the least fix
cess cannet be discovered, irtrich is clear otherrise in Number, Where, as
hasbeen said, qr is as distinguithable trom 90, a5 Froni g000, thouch, or
bethe next immediate Fxcels to 90. Burit isnor lo in Extension, vrhere
ertatsoever is more than just a POor, or an Tneh, ismot distinguithable trom
the Standard oF a FoOr, or an Inch; and in Fines ertrich appear of an c.
qual lensch, one may be longer than the ocher by innumerable Parts: NOr
canans one assion an Angle, wtrich Mall be the next bisgest to a right
Onc. V.
S. 3. By EhC rEPCaLINS, as Has Been lasa bFthe Idea of an Onito, and
joining it coanoeher Onite, we matre thereot one collective Idea, mar-
ked by the Name Pno. And wholoever ean do this, and proceed on,
Still addino one more eo ehe las collectire Laea he had of any Number,
ard eire aName 0 ie may counc, or have Ldeas sor severul Collections ot
Onites,