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# Title: An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding (shelfmarks Leibn. Marg. 38; ZEN Leibn. Marg. 38)
# Folio 323, page id 778263916:0339
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P. XTI. Improument ot our Lnomledoe
exist: Wincu Cetcatis Ot ileh general Provositions, depends on the
AErcement or Dilasreement is to be discorered in thole abltract Ideas.
8. c4. In the former cale, our Rno ledse is the consequence ot the
Fxictence oI Thines proctucins Ldeas in our Minds by our senses; in
thelatter, Knomledse is the consequence of the Ideas Fhat are in our
Minds wrharsoerer ther are, and produce general certain Propolitions,
mans whereosare called aeternae veritares; and are indeed (o, not trom
beins uritten in che Minds oF all. Men, or that they vere betore thc
World: But wherelderer vre can suppole sueh a Creature a5 Man iS Cn-
dored rith such Faculties, and cherebr Curnihied Wich such Ideas aS We
have, re must conclude he must nceds, when he applies his Thoushtsto
che conciderarion ot his ideas, hnor che Pruch os cerrain Propolitions
thac Will arise trom the Acreement, or Dilasreement, he will perceive
amonsthem. For Names beins luproled to cand perpecually tor che
samme ideas; aud che lame Ldeas havins immutabls che lame Elabicudes
onc toanother, Propoliions, concermins any abtraet ideas haE are OnCC
erue, must necds be eternal Verities.
I
 21 11 1. 2
Of the Improvement of our Rnouledee
5. F. PT havins been the common received Opinion amonest Men ol
LCcterS, thac Maxims vere the Foundations ol aIl Rnomledge;
and that the Sciences ere cach ofthem buile upon certain praecoenita,
From whence the Inderstandine as to take its rile, and by erhrich it as
to conduet it selt, in its enquiries into the matters belonsins to that
Science, the beaten road of the Schools, has been to lar domn in the becin-
mino, onc or more general Propositions, as Foundations whereon to build
theFnomledge as to be had ofthat Subject. Thele Doctrines thus laid
dorrn For Foundations of any science, vere called Principles, 25 tHe Be-
ginminss trom rhich e must set out, and look no Parcher backemards in
our Enguiries, but calse theso tor cerrain and unquestionable Fruths, and
Cctablistied Principles.
5. 2. That which save occasion eo this way of proccedine in other
Sciences, Was (a5 I supvose) the good success il scemed to have in Mathe
maricts, rherein Men, beins observed to actain a great certaintr ot
Knowledoe, thele Sciences came by pre-eminence to be called mabmpara,
and mabnors, Learnins, or thines learni d, throushly learn d, as havine ot
allother the grearest certainty, clearnels, and cvidence in them.
8. 3. BucH ass c Will consider, he Wil (lguels) tind, that the ereat
advancement and certaints of reat Anouledee Nen arrived to in thele
Sciences, as not omine tothe intluence of their Principles, nor derived
From any reculiar advantase they reccived trom trro or threc generat
Nlaxims laid donn in the besinnins; but fromthe clear, distinct, compleat
Ideas their Phoustus ere employ d about, and the relation of Fqualier
and Excels so elear betreen some ol them, thac cher had an intuitire
Rnowledse, and by chac a ay to diseover it in others, an chis Without
the helr ol chose Maxims. For Laste, Is it not postible for a roung Lad to
Hnow, that his wrhole Body is bisser than his licele Finger, bur by vircue
OEchis Aniom, chac chentiole is bies er chan a part; nor be asturec ot it,