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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 197, page id 778263916:0213
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5. T.
Pames of simple Ideas.
C IT A P.
Os che Names of Simple Ideas.
FTOusli all Nords, as P tave Mhered, signisie nochins immedi-
atelr, butthe Ldeas in elie Mind ol ehe Spealer; y et upon a
nearer TUrVeY, We MalI Sind Fhat tC Names of semple. Ideas, mixed Modes,
Cunder Which Pcomprile RelacionSEOO,) and naturat Substances, hare cacto
of them somerhine peculiar, and differenE (rOm FHC OtHerS. FOE Example:
8. 2. First, The Names of simple Edeas and Substances, WicH the 2b
Aract Fdeas in the Minc Whieh they immediately signitie, intimate al(o
some real Fxistence, From which was derived their original patrern. BUF
elie Names of mixed Medes, terminate in the Idea that is in ehe Mind, ane
lead not ehie Thoughrs any Carther, as Wwe MaII sec more at larse in the
Folloine Chapter.
5. 3. Secondlr, Llie Names of simple Ideas andt Modes, sienisie alvays che
real as ivell as nominal lssence of their Species. But the Names of naturat
Substances, senisie rarely, il ever, any chins Dut Barely the nominat Fssen-
ces olthose Species, as We MaII Ber in the Chapter, that trears ol the
Names oF Substances in particular.
8. 4. Thiralr, Itie Names of simple Ideas are not capable of any defini
tion; the Names OF aIl Coriplex Ideas are. TE taS NOL, FMaF PKnOW, Hither.
to been talcen notice oP bY any Body, Whac NV ords aro, and WHaL arO HOE
capable of beins detined: tho ivatit irhereot is (as lam apt rochinkc) not sel-
dom theoccasion ol great vranglins, and obscurier in Mens Dilcourses
irhilse some demand aefinicions ot Terms, Fat cannor be defined; and
others chinke, thez ourhe rorest Patistiec, in an Explication made by 2
inore seneral Word, and its Restriction, (Or to speak in PermSOF ANFBy
a Genus and Difterence,) Wrten even alter that regular Detinition, thole
evho hear it, have ofcen no more a elear Conception of tie meanins of
Fhe Word, than cher had Belore. Thisac lease, Pchink, chat the Morrino
Wlhat Nordsare, and Wrhat are not capable of Betinitions, and vherein
consists a g00d Detinition, is nor Wholly belides our prosent purpole; and
pertaps, Will aftord Po much Light cothe Nature ol thele Signs; and our
Ideas, as to delerre a more particular Consideration.
5. 5. TWill noc here trouble my selE, EO prOVC TMaF aII PErS ArO NOE
desinable Prom that Progress, in infinitum, irtrieh ic will visibly lead us
into, il re ould allo, chat aII Names could be dehred. Por it the
Ferrris of one Detinition, ere Nill to De delined by another, Whero at
laCMould re AoP: BuE I PaII From the Nature ot our Ideas, and the
Signification oi our Words Men, Why some lames can, and otbers cannot
be defined, and Wrhich they arc.
5. 6. Pchinl, it isagrecd, etat a Desinition is nochine el(C, DuE thC
Bevine the meanine of one Trord hy several other not synonymous Terms.
The meanins ol WVords, beins only the Idea they are made to stand Por
by him chat ules eliem; the tcanins of any Term is tien Mewed, op
the Word is defined, Wrhen by othor Words, the Idea it is annexed to, and
made the Sien ot, in the Mind oF che Speaker, is as it vere reprelented,
or set belore the riem ol anocher; and thus its Signitication ascerrained:
This is thC only use and end of Detinitions; and theretore thre orly mea-
fure oF irhat is, Or is nOL a Sood Detinition.
5. 7. Thisbeins premiled, PCay, chai the Names of simple Laeas, anics
thole ony, are incapable of beine desmed. The Realon Whereolis this, THaF
the leveral Permsot a Detinition, lignitvins several Pdeas, ther can alco.
Bectex by no means represent an Idea, whieti huchr. n0, Compolicion al
in