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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 152, page id 778263916:0168
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Relation.
5. 7. Concernins Relation in general, chese chings may De consi
dered:
First, Fhat chero is no one thine, Whether simple Pdea, Substance, Mode,
or Relation, or Name oFeither otthem, which is not capable of almest an
infinite number of Considerations, in reserence to orter thinos; and there-
fore nhis makes no mall part oF Mens ThougHES and N OrdS; v, c. One
Tinole Man may at once be concerned in, and sustain all these Followino
Relations, and many more, viz. Father, Brocher, Son, Grandsather,
Grandson Father-in Lar, Son in- PaW, HTusband, Friend, Enenr, Sub.
ject, Ceneral, Fudse, Patron, Client, Professor, Furopean, Fnglistr. man,
Ilanders, Servan, Master, Possessor, Captain, Superiour, Inferiour, Digger,
Tels, Older, Pounser, Contemporarr, Litre, Onlitce, Csc. to an almost in-
fnite number, he beins capable ot as manr Relations, as there can be oc.
calions oF comparins him to other thines, with which he may aoree, or
dilagreo, or have any respect: For, as I laid, Relarion is a war et compa-
ring, or considerine tro chings together; and siving one, or boch ot
them, some appellarion trom that Comparison, and lometimes sirins
even the Rolation it selF a Name.
5. 8. Secondly, This Parther may be considered concernine Relation,
Thac thouph it be noc contained in the real existence OF ThingS, DuF POrne-
chinu extraneous, and superinduced; yet the Laeas irhich relatire WNords
Atand for, are otten clearer, and more distinet, thanof those Substances to
wtrich chey do Belonz. The Notion tre have of a Father, or Brother, is a
sreat deal clearer, ardmore distinct, than that ve hare ofaMtan: Or, it
rou iil, Paternity is a chins urhereotris calier to have a clear Idea,
than ot Tlumanity: And Iean much calier conccive what a Friend is,
thian Wwhac GOD. Pecause the Hnomledse os one ACtion, or onc simple
Idea, is ostentimes sufficient to sire me rhe Notion oF a Relation: DuFtO
the bnorring ot any substantial Beins, an accurate collection ot sunder
Ideas is necessary. A Man, il he compare two things together, can
hardly besuppoled noc to lino what it is, erherein he compares chem:
So chat wrhien he compares any Things cegether, he cannot but havea
very clear Idea oF that Relation. The Ldeas thenof Relations are capable
at least of beine more perfeit and distinct in our Minds, than those of Sub-
stances: Because it is commonls hard to bno all the simple Ldeas, Wrhich
are really in any Substance, but Tor the most part casie enouxh to lenour
the Cimple Ideas thac mate up any Relation Lchinton, or hrave a Name
for; 2. 8. comparins trro Men, in reterence to one common Parent, it
is very calie to trame the Ideas oF Brorhers, without havins vec thie pertect
Idea oFaMan. For ligniticant relatire Words, 25 well as others, sandine
onty for Ideas; and those being all cither simple, or made ux ot simple
ones, it suttices for theknomine the precile Ldea the relative term cands
For, to hare a clear conceprion ofthat, ihich is thefoundarien ot the Re-
lation; Whrich mas be done without havins a pertect and clear Idea ot
the thins it is attribured to. Thus havinsche Notion, that onc laid the
Figo, out oF Wrhich the otheras hatched, Ihave a clear Ldea of the Re
lation of Dim and Chick, betreen the tro Cactrorvaries in St. Famess
Park; thovol, pertraps, Ihave bur a very obscure and imperteet Idea ot
those Birds chemlelves.
5. 9. Chrraly, LhodE,a iee DC a Elea HDet e Comuctaciorio
Wherein Thines may be compared one rith anocher, and (0 a multitude
ot Relarions, Yet they au terminare in, and are concerned abour thole
smple Ideas, cither of Senlation or Reflection; erhich I think to be the
wrtiole Marerials of allour Knorledee. 2ocleax this, I Mrall Mer irin thC
ost