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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 320, page id 778263916:0336
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nomledre of Existence ot other Thines. B00kIV
cal demonstrations depend not upon senle, ret che examinine them by
Diaerams, sires great credit tothie Fridence ot our sighe, and seems to give
it a Certaints approachins to that ot the Demonstration it selF. For it
erould De verr Pranse, that a Blan Mould allor it for an undeniablo
Fruch, that tro Angles oFa Fisure, wrhich he meatures by Lines and
Ancles oFa Diagram, Mould be biscer one tham the otter; and vet
doubt of the Existence oF thole Lines and Angles, Which by loolins on
hemakies ule oF to meature that by.
8. 7. Fourthly, Our Senses, in mans cales, bear itness to the Truthof
each others report, concernins the F.Xistence ot sensible Thinas Without
US. Fse that sees a Fire, maz, it he doubt wrhether it be anr thino more
than a bare Fancz, fecl it t0o; and be convinced, by purtins tiis Eland
in ic. Which certainly could never de put into such exquisice vain, by
a bare Idea or Phancom, unless that the pain be a fancy 100: Which
vet hecannor, Wrhen the Burnis vell, by railins the Idea ol it, bring upon
himseleagain.
Thus (sce, Whils Perrite this, P can chanse the Appearance of the
Paxer; and by delignins the Letrers, tell belore hand irhar nem Idea
it Ball exhibit che very next moment, barely by my dravins the Pen
over ic: Which will neither appear (let me fansie a5 mucr a5 I WilI) it
iny FTandCtandCill, or thoushl movemy Pen, il my Fresbe Mut: Nor
When thole Characters are once made on the Paper, can lchule alter-
vards but see themas thez are; thar is, have the Ideas oF (uch L CtFOrS aS
Phave made. Whence it is manisest, that thes are not bavels the SpOrt
andPlas oF my omnimagination, wrhen I find, that the Characters FhaE
vere made at the pleasure ofmy omn Thousts, do not ober them; nOx
vet cease to De, Whenerer l Thalltanlie ic, but continue to atteet mr Sen-
les constantls and regularir, accordins rothe Figures I made them. T0
ertrich if ire irill add, chat the sight oFthose Mall, trom anocher Man, dra
such Sounds, as Pbetore hand design ther MalI Aand For, there will De
litrle reason lese to doube, that thole Nords, Prrire, do really exist without
me, When ther cause a lons series ol regular Councis to aAect my Pars,
prhich could not bethe efect ofmy imagination, nor could my Memors
retain them in that order.
5. 8. But yet il aster all this, anz one will be s0 scepticalas to distrust
his Senses, arid to afirm, that aIl me sec and hear, seel and taste, thinke
and do, durins our rhole Beins, is but the series and deludire appea-
rances oFa lons Dream, Whereot there is no reality; and cheretore wilt
queltion the Fxistence ol all Thines, or our Hnowledse ot any thins: I
rust delire huim to consider, chiat il all be a Dream, ihen he doch bue
dream that he makres the Ouestion; and so it is not much matrer eliat a
Man Mould ansiver. But zec, it he please, he may dream thar I malie this
ansiver, Thac the certainty of Thinss existins in rerum Natura, wrtien We
have the testimony ef our Senses Por it, is noronly as creat a5 our trame
can attain to, but as our Condirion needs. For our Faculties beine luited not
1o the tull extent ot Beins, nor 1d a perteet, clear comprehentive lnomledoe
OFchinss, tree trom all doube and scruple; buerorhe preserration ot us in,
wrhiom thiey are; and accommodated ro the use of Lite: they serve to
our purpose ell enoush, il ther rill bur sire us cerrain notice of thole
Thines, Whichere convenient or inconvenient to us. Por he that sces 2
Candle burning, and liath experimented the force oFits Flame, Dy Puttins
his Finger in iE, Wils lictle doube, thac ehis is somethinss existino withoue
him, Whick docs him harm, and purs him togreat pain; Whichis alturence
cnoush, ulien no Man reguires ercater certaines io gorem hiis Actions