首页 >出版文学> A Treatise of Human Nature>第8章
  ConclusionofthisBook。
  ButbeforeIlaunchoutintothoseimmensedepthsofphilosophy,whichliebeforeme,Ifindmyselfinclin’dtostopamomentinmypresentstation,andtoponderthatvoyage,whichIhaveundertaken,andwhichundoubtedlyrequirestheutmostartandindustrytobebroughttoahappyconclusion。MethinksIamlikeaman,whohavingstruckonmanyshoals,andhavingnarrowlyescap’dshipwreckinpassingasmallfrith,hasyetthetemeritytoputouttoseainthesameleakyweather-beatenvessel,andevencarrieshisambitionsofarastothinkofcompassingtheglobeunderthesedisadvantageouscircumstances。Mymemoryofpasterrorsandperplexities,makesmediffidentforthefuture。Thewretchedcondition,weakness,anddisorderofthefaculties,Imustemployinmyenquiries,encreasemyapprehensions。Andtheimpossibilityofamendingorcorrectingthesefaculties,reducesmealmosttodespair,andmakesmeresolvetoperishonthebarrenrock,onwhichIamatpresent,ratherthanventuremyselfuponthatboundlessocean,whichrunsoutintoimmensity。Thissuddenviewofmydangerstrikesmewithmelancholy;andas’tisusualforthatpassion,aboveallothers,toindulgeitself;Icannotforbearfeedingmydespair,withallthosedespondingreflections,whichthepresentsubjectfurnishesmewithinsuchabundance。
  Iamfirstaffrightedandconfoundedwiththatforelornsolitude,inwhichIamplac’dinmyphilosophy,andfancymyselfsomestrangeuncouthmonster,whonotbeingabletomingleanduniteinsociety,hasbeenexpell’dallhumancommerce,andleftutterlyabandon’danddisconsolate。Fainwou’dIrunintothecrowdforshelterandwarmth;butcannotprevailwithmyselftomixwithsuchdeformity。Icalluponotherstojoinme,inordertomakeacompanyapart;butnoonewillhearkentome。Everyonekeepsatadistance,anddreadsthatstorm,whichbeatsuponmefromeveryside。Ihaveexpos’dmyselftotheenmityofallmetaphysicians,logicians,mathematicians,andeventheologians;andcanIwonderattheinsultsImustsuffer?Ihavedeclar’dmydisapprobationoftheirsystems;andcanIbesurpriz’d,iftheyshou’dexpressahatredofmineandofmyperson?WhenIlookabroad,Iforeseeoneveryside,dispute,contradiction,anger,calumnyanddetraction。WhenIturnmyeyeinward,Ifindnothingbutdoubtandignorance。Alltheworldconspirestoopposeandcontradictme;tho’suchismyweakness,thatIfeelallmyopinionsloosenandfallofthemselves,whenunsupportedbytheapprobationofothers。EverystepItakeiswithhesitation,andeverynewreflectionmakesmedreadanerrorandabsurdityinmyreasoning。
  ForwithwhatconfidencecanIventureuponsuchboldenterprises,whenbesidethosenumberlessinfirmitiespeculiartomyself,Ifindsomanywhicharecommontohumannature?CanIbesure,thatinleavingallestablishedopinionsIamfollowingtruth;andbywhatcriterionshallIdistinguishher,eveniffortuneshou’datlastguidemeonherfoot-steps?Afterthemostaccurateandexactofmyreasonings,IcangivenoreasonwhyIshou’dassenttoit;andfeelnothingbutastrongpropensitytoconsiderobjectsstronglyinthatview,underwhichtheyappeartome。Experienceisaprinciple,whichinstructsmeintheseveralconjunctionsofobjectsforthepast。Habitisanotherprinciple,whichdeterminesmetoexpectthesameforthefuture;andbothofthemconspiringtooperateupontheimagination,makemeformcertainideasinamoreintenseandlivelymanner,thanothers,whicharenotattendedwiththesameadvantages。Withoutthisquality,bywhichthemindenlivenssomeideasbeyondotherswhichseeminglyissotrivial,andsolittlefoundedonreasonwecou’dneverassenttoanyargument,norcarryourviewbeyondthosefewobjects,whicharepresenttooursenses。Nay,eventotheseobjectswecou’dneverattributeanyexistence,butwhatwasdependentonthesenses;andmustcomprehendthementirelyinthatsuccessionofperceptions,whichconstitutesourselforperson。Nayfarther,evenwithrelationtothatsuccession,wecou’donlyadmitofthoseperceptions,whichareimmediatelypresenttoourconsciousness,norcou’dthoselivelyimages,withwhichthememorypresentsus,beeverreceiv’dastruepicturesofpastperceptions。Thememory,senses,andunderstandingare,therefore,allofthemfoundedontheimagination,orthevivacityofourideas。
  Nowonderaprinciplesoinconstantandfallaciousshou’dleadusintoerrors,whenimplicitlyfollow’dasitmustbeinallitsvariations。’Tisthisprinciple,whichmakesusreasonfromcausesandeffects;and’tisthesameprinciple,whichconvincesusofthecontinu’dexistenceofexternalobjects,whenabsentfromthesenses。Buttho’thesetwooperationsbeequallynaturalandnecessaryinthehumanmind,yetinsomecircumstancestheyare47directlycontrary,norisitpossibleforustoreasonjustlyandregularlyfromcausesandeffects,andatthesametimebelievethecontinu’dexistenceofmatter。Howthenshallweadjustthoseprinciplestogether?Whichofthemshallweprefer?Orincasewepreferneitherofthem,butsuccessivelyassenttoboth,asisusualamongphilosophers,withwhatconfidencecanweafterwardsusurpthatglorioustitle,whenwethusknowinglyembraceamanifestcontradiction?
  Thiscontradiction48wou’dbemoreexcusable,wereitcompensatedbyanydegreeofsolidityandsatisfactionintheotherpartsofourreasoning。Butthecaseisquitecontrary。Whenwetraceupthehumanunderstandingtoitsfirstprinciples,wefindittoleadusintosuchsentiments,asseemtoturnintoridiculeallourpastpainsandindustry,andtodiscourageusfromfutureenquiries。Nothingismorecuriouslyenquir’dafterbythemindofman,thanthecausesofeveryphenomenon;norarewecontentwithknowingtheimmediatecauses,butpushonourenquiries,tillwearriveattheoriginalandultimateprinciple。Wewou’dnotwillinglystopbeforeweareacquaintedwiththatenergyinthecause,bywhichitoperatesonitseffect;thattie,whichconnectsthemtogether;andthatefficaciousquality,onwhichthetiedepends。Thisisouraiminallourstudiesandreflections:Andhowmustwebedisappointed,whenwelearn,thatthisconnexion,tie,orenergyliesmerelyinourselves,andisnothingbutthatdeterminationofthemind,whichisacquir’dbycustom,andcausesustomakeatransitionfromanobjecttoitsusualattendant,andfromtheimpressionofonetothelivelyideaoftheother?Suchadiscoverynotonlycutsoffallhopeofeverattainingsatisfaction,butevenpreventsourverywishes;sinceitappears,thatwhenwesaywedesiretoknowtheultimateandoperatingprinciple,assomething,whichresidesintheexternalobject,weeithercontradictourselves,ortalkwithoutameaning。
  Thisdeficiencyinourideasisnot,indeed,perceivedincommonlife,norarewesensible,thatinthemostusualconjunctionsofcauseandeffectweareasignorantoftheultimateprinciple,whichbindsthemtogether,asinthemostunusualandextraordinary。Butthisproceedsmerelyfromanillusionoftheimagination;andthequestionis,howfarweoughttoyieldtotheseillusions。Thisquestionisverydifficult,andreducesustoaverydangerousdilemma,whicheverwayweanswerit。Forifweassenttoeverytrivialsuggestionofthefancy;besidethatthesesuggestionsareoftencontrarytoeachother;theyleadusintosucherrors,absurdities,andobscurities,thatwemustatlastbecomeasham’dofourcredulity。Nothingismoredangeroustoreasonthantheflightsoftheimagination,andnothinghasbeentheoccasionofmoremistakesamongphilosophers。Menofbrightfanciesmayinthisrespectbecompar’dtothoseangels,whomthescripturerepresentsascoveringtheireyeswiththeirwings。Thishasalreadyappear’dinsomanyinstances,thatwemayspareourselvesthetroubleofenlarginguponitanyfarther。
  Butontheotherhand,iftheconsiderationoftheseinstancesmakesustakearesolutiontorejectallthetrivialsuggestionsofthefancy,andadheretotheunderstanding,thatis,tothegeneralandmoreestablishedpropertiesoftheimagination;eventhisresolution,ifsteadilyexecuted,wou’dbedangerous,andattendedwiththemostfatalconsequences。ForIhavealreadyshewn,49thattheunderstanding,whenitactsalone,andaccordingtoitsmostgeneralprinciples,entirelysubvertsitself,andleavesnotthelowestdegreeofevidenceinanyproposition,eitherinphilosophyorcommonlife。Wesaveourselvesfromthistotalscepticismonlybymeansofthatsingularandseeminglytrivialpropertyofthefancy,bywhichweenterwithdifficultyintoremoteviewsofthings,andarenotabletoaccompanythemwithsosensibleanimpression,aswedothose,whicharemoreeasyandnatural。Shallwe,then,establishitforageneralmaxim,thatnorefin’dorelaboratereasoningisevertobereceiv’d?Considerwelltheconsequencesofsuchaprinciple。Bythismeansyoucutoffentirelyallscienceandphilosophy:Youproceedupononesingularqualityoftheimagination,andbyaparityofreasonmustembraceallofthem:Andyouexpresslycontradictyourself;sincethismaximmustbebuiltontheprecedingreasoning,whichwillbeallow’dtobesufficientlyrefin’dandmetaphysical。Whatparty,then,shallwechooseamongthesedifficulties?Ifweembracethisprinciple,andcondemnallrefin’dreasoning,werunintothemostmanifestabsurdities。Ifwerejectitinfavourofthesereasonings,wesubvertentirelythe,humanunderstanding。Wehave,therefore,nochoiceleftbutbetwixtafalsereasonandnoneatall。Formypart,knownotwhatoughttobedoneinthepresentcase。Icanonlyobservewhatiscommonlydone;whichis,thatthisdifficultyisseldomorneverthoughtof;andevenwhereithasoncebeenpresenttothemind,isquicklyforgot,andleavesbutasmallimpressionbehindit。Veryrefin’dreflectionshavelittleornoinfluenceuponus;andyetwedonot,andcannotestablishitforarule,thattheyoughtnottohaveanyinfluence;whichimpliesamanifestcontradiction。
  ButwhathaveIheresaid,thatreflectionsveryrefin’dandmetaphysicalhavelittleornoinfluenceuponus?ThisopinionIcanscarceforbearretracting,andcondemningfrommypresentfeelingandexperience。Theintenseviewofthesemanifoldcontradictionsandimperfectionsinhumanreasonhassowroughtuponme,andheatedmybrain,thatIamreadytorejectallbeliefandreasoning,andcanlookuponnoopinionevenasmoreprobableorlikelythananother。WhereamI,orwhat?FromwhatcausesdoIderivemyexistence,andtowhatconditionshallIreturn?WhosefavourshallIcourt,andwhoseangermustIdread?Whatbeingssurroundme?andonwhomhave,Ianyinfluence,orwhohaveanyinfluenceonme?Iamconfoundedwithallthesequestions,andbegintofancymyselfinthemostdeplorableconditionimaginable,inviron’dwiththedeepestdarkness,andutterlydepriv’doftheuseofeverymemberandfaculty。
  Mostfortunatelyithappens,thatsincereasonisincapableofdispellingtheseclouds,natureherselfsufficestothatpurpose,andcuresmeofthisphilosophicalmelancholyanddelirium,eitherbyrelaxingthisbentofmind,orbysomeavocation,andlivelyimpressionofmysenses,whichobliterateallthesechimeras。Idine,Iplayagameofbackgammon,Iconverse,andammerrywithmyfriends;andwhenafterthreeorfourhours’amusement,Iwou’dreturntothesespeculations,theyappearsocold,andstrain’d,andridiculous,thatIcannotfindinmyhearttoenterintothemanyfarther。
  HerethenIfindmyselfabsolutelyandnecessarilydetermin’dtolive,andtalk,andactlikeotherpeopleinthecommonaffairsoflife。Butnotwithstandingthatmynaturalpropensity,andthecourseofmyanimalspiritsandpassionsreducemetothisindolentbeliefinthegeneralmaximsoftheworld,Istillfeelsuchremainsofmyformerdisposition,thatIamreadytothrowallmybooksandpapersintothefire,andresolvenevermoretorenouncethepleasuresoflifeforthesakeofreasoningandphilosophy。Forthosearemysentimentsinthatsplenetichumour,whichgovernsmeatpresent。Imay,nayImustyieldtothecurrentofnature,insubmittingtomysensesandunderstanding;andinthisblindsubmissionIshewmostperfectlymyscepticaldispositionandprinciples。Butdoesitfollow,thatImuststriveagainstthecurrentofnature,whichleadsmetoindolenceandpleasure;thatImustsecludemyself,insomemeasure,fromthecommerceandsocietyofmen,whichissoagreeable;andthatImusttorturemybrainswithsubtilitiesandsophistries,attheverytimethatIcannotsatisfymyselfconcerningthereasonablenessofsopainfulanapplication,norhaveanytolerableprospectofarrivingbyitsmeansattruthandcertainty。UnderwhatobligationdoIlieofmakingsuchanabuseoftime?Andtowhatendcanitserveeitherfortheserviceofmankind,orformyownprivateinterest?No:IfImustbeafool,asallthosewhoreasonorbelieveanythingcertainlyare,myfolliesshallatleastbenaturalandagreeable。WhereIstriveagainstmyinclination,Ishallhaveagoodreasonformyresistance;andwillnomorebeledawanderingintosuchdrearysolitudes,androughpassages,asIhavehithertometwith。
  Thesearethesentimentsofmyspleenandindolence;,andindeedImustconfess,thatphilosophyhasnothingtoopposetothem,andexpectsavictorymorefromthereturnsofaseriousgood-humour’ddisposition,thanfromtheforceofreasonandconviction。Inalltheincidentsoflifeweoughtstilltopreserveourscepticism。Ifwebelieve,thatfirewarms,orwaterrefreshes,’tisonlybecauseitcostsustoomuchpainstothinkotherwise。Nayifwearephilosophers,itoughtonlytobeuponscepticalprinciples,andfromaninclination,whichwefeeltotheemployingourselvesafterthatmanner。Wherereasonislively,andmixesitselfwithsomepropensity,itoughttobeassentedto。Whereitdoesnot,itnevercanhaveanytitletooperateuponus。
  Atthetime,therefore,thatIamtir’dwithamusementandcompany,andhaveindulg’dareverieinmychamber,orinasolitarywalkbyariver-side,Ifeelmymindallcollectedwithinitself,andamnaturallyinclin’dtocarrymyviewintoallthosesubjects,aboutwhichIhavemetwithsomanydisputesinthecourseofmyreadingandconversation。Icannotforbearhavingacuriositytobeacquaintedwiththeprinciplesofmoralgoodandevil,thenatureandfoundationofgovernment,andthecauseofthoseseveralpassionsandinclinations,whichactuateandgovernme。IamuneasytothinkIapproveofoneobject,anddisapproveofanother;callonethingbeautiful,andanotherdeform’d;decideconcerningtruthandfalshood,reasonandfolly,withoutknowinguponwhatprinciplesIproceed。Iamconcern’dfortheconditionofthelearnedworld,whichliesundersuchtdeplorableignoranceinalltheseparticulars。Ifeelanambitiontoariseinmeofcontributingtotheinstructionofmankind,andofacquiringanamebymyinventionsanddiscoveries。Thesesentimentsspringupnaturallyinmypresentdisposition;andshou’dIendeavourtobanishthem,byattachingmyselftoanyotherbusinessordiversion,IfeelIshou’dbealoserinpointofpleasure;andthisistheoriginofmyphilosophy。
  Butevensupposethiscuriosityandambitionshou’dnottransportmeintospeculationswithoutthesphereofcommonlife,itwou’dnecessarilyhappen,thatfrommyveryweaknessImustbeledintosuchenquiries。’Tiscertain,thatsuperstitionismuchmoreboldinitssystemsandhypothesesthanphilosophy;andwhilethelattercontentsitselfwithassigningnewcausesandprinciplestothephaenomena,whichappearinthevisibleworld,theformeropensaworldofitsown,andpresentsuswithscenes,andbeings,andobjects,whicharealtogethernew。Sincetherefore’tisalmostimpossibleforthemindofmantorest,likethoseofbeasts,inthatnarrowcircleofobjects,whicharethesubjectofdailyconversationandaction,weoughtonlytodeliberateconcerningthechoiceofourguide,andoughttopreferthatwhichissafestandmostagreeable。AndinthisrespectImakeboldtorecommendphilosophy,andshallnotscrupletogiveitthepreferencetosuperstitionofeverykindordenomination。Forassuperstitionarisesnaturallyandeasilyfromthepopularopinionsofmankind,itseizesmorestronglyonthemind,andisoftenabletodisturbusintheconductofourlivesandactions。Philosophyonthecontrary,ifjust,canpresentusonlywithmildandmoderatesentiments;andiffalseandextravagant,itsopinionsaremerelytheobjectsofacoldandgeneralspeculation,andseldomgosofarastointerruptthecourseofournaturalpropensities。TheCYNICSareanextraordinaryinstanceofphilosophers,whofromreasoningspurelyphilosophicalranintoasgreatextravaganciesofconductasanyMonkorDervisethateverwasintheworld。Generallyspeaking,theerrorsinreligionaredangerous;thoseinphilosophyonlyridiculous。
  Iamsensible,thatthesetwocasesofthestrengthandweaknessofthemindwillnotcomprehendallmankind,andthatthereareinEngland,inparticular,manyhonestgentlemen,whobeingalwaysemploy’dintheirdomesticaffairs,oramusingthemselvesincommonrecreations,havecarriedtheirthoughtsverylittlebeyondthoseobjects,whichareeverydayexpos’dtotheirsenses。Andindeed,ofsuchastheseIpretendnottomakephilosophers,nordoIexpectthemeithertobeassociatesintheseresearchesorauditorsofthesediscoveries。Theydowelltokeepthemselvesintheirpresentsituation;andinsteadofrefiningthemintophilosophers,Iwishwecou’dcommunicatetoourfoundersofsystems,ashareofthisgrossearthymixture,asaningredient,whichtheycommonlystandmuchinneedof,andwhichwou’dservetotemperthosefieryparticles,ofwhichtheyarecompos’d。Whileawarmimaginationisallow’dtoenterintophilosophy,andhypothesesembrac’dmerelyforbeingspeciousandagreeable,wecanneverhaveanysteadyprinciples,noranysentiments,whichwillsuitwithcommonpracticeandexperience。Butwerethesehypothesesonceremov’d,wemighthopetoestablishasystemorsetofopinions,whichifnottrueforthat,perhaps,istoomuchtobehop’dformightatleastbesatisfactorytothehumanmind,andmightstandthetestofthemostcriticalexamination。Norshou’dwedespairofattainingthisend,becauseofthemanychimericalsystems,whichhavesuccessivelyarisenanddecay’dawayamongmen,wou’dweconsidertheshortnessofthatperiod,whereinthesequestionshavebeenthesubjectsofenquiryandreasoning。Twothousandyearswithsuchlonginterruptions,andundersuchmightydiscouragementsareasmallspaceoftimetogiveanytolerableperfectiontothesciences;andperhapswearestillintooearlyanageoftheworldtodiscoveranyprinciples,whichwillbeartheexaminationofthelatestposterity。Formypart,myonlyhopeis,thatImaycontributealittletotheadvancementofknowledge,bygivinginsomeparticularsadifferentturntothespeculationsofphilosophers,andpointingouttothemmoredistinctlythosesubjects,wherealonetheycanexpectassuranceandconviction。HumanNatureistheonlyscienceofman;andyethasbeenhithertothemostneglected。’Twillbesufficientforme,ifIcanbringitalittlemoreintofashion;andthehopeofthisservestocomposemytemperfromthatspleen,andinvigorateitfromthatindolence,whichsometimesprevailuponme。Ifthereaderfindshimselfinthesameeasydisposition,lethimfollowmeinmyfuturespeculations。Ifnot,lethimfollowhisinclination,andwaitthereturnsofapplicationandgoodhumour。Theconductofaman,whostudiesphilosophyinthiscarelessmanner,ismoretrulyscepticalthanthatofone,whofeelinginhimselfaninclinationtoit,isyetsooverwhelmedwithdoubtsandscruples,astotallytorejectit。Atruescepticwillbediffidentofhisphilosophicaldoubts,aswellasofhisphilosophicalconviction;andwillneverrefuseanyinnocentsatisfaction,whichoffersitself,uponaccountofeitherofthem。
  Norisitonlyproperweshou’dingeneralindulgeourinclinationinthemostelaboratephilosophicalresearches,notwithstandingourscepticalprinciples,butalsothatweshou’dyieldtothatpropensity,whichinclinesustobepositiveandcertaininparticularpoints,accordingtothelight,inwhichwesurveytheminanyparticularinstant。’Tiseasiertoforbearallexaminationandenquiry,thantocheckourselvesinsonaturalapropensity,andguardagainstthatassurance,whichalwaysarisesfromanexactandfullsurveyofanobject。Onsuchanoccasionweareaptnotonlytoforgetourscepticism,butevenourmodestytoo;andmakeuseofsuchtermsasthese,’tisevident,’tiscertain,’tisundeniable;whichaduedeferencetothepublicought,perhaps,toprevent。Imayhavefallenintothisfaultaftertheexampleofothers;butIhereenteracaveatagainstanyObjections,whichmaybeoffer’donthathead;anddeclarethatsuchexpressionswereextortedfrommebythepresentviewoftheobject,andimplynodogmaticalspirit,norconceitedideaofmyownjudgment,whicharesentimentsthatIamsensiblecanbecomenobody,andascepticstilllessthananyother。
  NOTES:
  1。Iheremakeuseoftheseterms,impressionandidea,inasensedifferentfromwhatisusual,andIhopethislibertywillbeallowedme。PerhapsIratherrestoretheword,idea,toitsoriginalsense,fromwhichMrLockehadpervertedit,inmakingitstandforallourperceptions。BythetermsofimpressionIwouldnotbeunderstoodtoexpressthemanner,inwhichourlivelyperceptionsareproducedinthesoul,butmerelytheperceptionsthemselves;forwhichthereisnoparticularnameeitherintheEnglishoranyotherlanguage,thatIknowof。
  2。PartII,Sect。5。
  3。Dr。Berkeley。
  4。[ThefollowingnoteisinsertedfromHumesAppendixtoBookIII]
  ’Tisevident,thatevendifferentsimpleideasmayhaveasimilarityorresemblancetoeachother;norisitnecessary,thatthepointorcircumstanceofresemblanceshoudbedistinctorseparablefromthatinwhichtheydiffer。Blueandgreenaredifferentsimpleideas,butaremoreresemblingthanblueandscarlet;thotheirperfectsimplicityexcludesallpossibilityofseparationordistinction。’Tisthesamecasewithparticularsounds,andtastesandsmells。Theseadmitofinfiniteresemblancesuponthegeneralappearanceandcomparison,withouthavinganycommoncircumstancethesame。Andofthiswemaybecertain,evenfromtheveryabstracttermssimpleidea。Theycomprehendallsimpleideasunderthem。Theseresembleeachotherintheirsimplicity。Andyetfromtheirverynature,whichexcludesallcomposition,thiscircumstance,Inwhichtheyresemble,Isnotdistinguishablenorseparablefromtherest。’TisthesamecasewithallthedegreesInanyquality。Theyareallresemblingandyetthequality,Inanyindividual,Isnotdistinctfromthedegree。
  5。Ithasbeenobjectedtome,thatinfinitedivisibilitysupposesonlyaninfinitenumberofproportionalnotofaliqiotparts,andthataninfinitenumberofproportionalpartsdoesnotformaninfiniteextension。Butthisdistinctionisentirelyfrivolous。Whetherthesepartsbecalldaliquotorproportional,theycannotbeinferiortothoseminutepartsweconceive;andthereforecannotformalessextensionbytheirconjunction。
  6。Mons。Malezieu7。Mr。Locke。
  8。Sect。5。
  9。L’Artdepenser。
  10。SeeDr。Barrow’smathematicallectures。
  11。[ThefollowingnoteisinsertedfromtheappendixtoBookIII。]
  Aslongasweconfineourspeculationstotheappearancesofobjectstooursenses,withoutenteringintodisquisitionsconcerningtheirrealnatureandoperations,wearesafefromalldifficulties,andcan。neverbeembarrass’dbyanyquestion。Thus,ifitbeask’d,iftheinvisibleandintangibledistance,interposedbetwixttwoobjects,besomethingornothing:’Tiseasytoanswer,thatitissomething,VIZ。apropertyoftheobjects,whichaffectthesensesaftersuchaparticularmanner。Ifitbeask’dwhethertwoobjects,havingsuchadistancebetwixtthem,touchornot:itmaybeanswer’d,thatthisdependsuponthedefinitionoftheword,touch。Ifobjectsbesaidtotouch,whenthereisnothingsensibleinterpos’dbetwixtthem,theseobjectstouch:itobjectsbesaidtotouch,whentheirimagesstrikecontiguouspartsoftheeye,andwhenthehandfeelsbothobjectssuccessively,withoutanyinterpos’dmotion,theseobjectsdonottouch。Theappearancesofobjectstooursensesareallconsistent;andnodifficultiescaneverarise,butfromtheobscurityofthetermswemakeuseof。
  Ifwecarryourenquirybeyondtheappearancesofobjectstothesenses,Iamafraid,thatmostofourconclusionswillbefullofscepticismanduncertainty。Thusifitbeask’d,whetherornottheinvisibleandintangibledistancebealwaysfullofbody,orofsomethingthatbyanimprovementofourorgansmightbecomevisibleortangible,Imustacknowledge,thatIfindnoverydecisiveargumentsoneitherside;tho’Iaminclin’dtothecontraryopinion,asbeingmoresuitabletovulgarandpopularnotions。IftheNewtonianphilosophyberightlyunderstood,itwillbefoundtomeannomore。Avacuumisasserted:Thatis,bodiesaresaidtobeplac’daftersuchamanner,istoreceivebodiesbetwixtthem,withoutimpulsionorpenetration。Therealnatureofthispositionofbodiesisunknown。Weareonlyacquaintedwithitseffectsonthesenses,anditspowerofreceivingbody。Nothingismoresuitabletothatphilosophy,thanamodestscepticismtoacertaindegree,andafairconfessionofignoranceinsubjects,thatexceedallhumancapacity。
  12。PartI。Sect。7。
  13。PartIV,Sect。2。
  14。PartI。Sect。5。
  15。PartIV。Sect。5。
  16。Mr。Hobbes。
  17。Dr,Clarkeandothers。
  18。Mr。Locke。
  19。Wemayheretakeoccasiontoobserveaveryremarkableerror,whichbeingfrequentlyinculcatedintheschools,hasbecomeakindofestablishdmaxim,andisuniversallyreceivedbyalllogicians。Thiserrorconsistsinthevulgardivisionoftheactsoftheunderstanding,intoconception,judgmentandreasoning,andinthedefinitionswegiveofthem。Conceptionisdefindtobethesimplesurveyofoneormoreideas:Judgmenttobetheseparatingorunitingofdifferentideas:Reasoningtobetheseparatingorunitingofdifferentideasbytheinterpositionofothers,whichshowtherelationtheybeartoeachother。Butthesedistinctionsanddefinitionsarefaultyinveryconsiderablearticles。Forfirst,’tisfarfrombeingtrue,thatineveryjudgment,whichweform,weunitetwodifferentideas;sinceinthatproposition,Godis,orindeedanyother,whichregardsexistence,theideaofexistenceisnodistinctidea,whichweunitewiththatoftheobject,andwhichiscapableofformingacompoundideabytheunion。Secondly,Aswecanthusformaproposition,whichcontainsonlyoneidea,sowemayexertourreasonwithoutemployingmorethantwoideas,andwithouthavingrecoursetoathirdtoserveasamediumbetwixtthem。Weinferacauseimmediatelyfromitseffect;andthisinferenceisnotonlyatruespeciesofreasoning,butthestrongestofallothers,andmoreconvincingthanwhenweinterposeanotherideatoconnectthetwoextremes。Whatwemayingeneralaffirmconcerningthesethreeactsoftheunderstandingis,thattakingtheminaproperlight,theyallresolvethemselvesintothefirst,andarenothingbutparticularwaysofconceivingourobjects。Whetherweconsiderasingleobject,orseveral;whetherwedwellontheseobjects,orrunfromthemtoothers;andinwhateverformororderwesurveythem,theactofthemindexceedsnotasimpleconception;andtheonlyremarkabledifference,whichoccursonthisoccasion,is,whenwejoinbelieftotheconception,andarepersuadedofthetruthofwhatweconceive。Thisactofthemindhasneveryetbeenexplaindbyanyphilosopher;andthereforeIamatlibertytoproposemyhypothesisconcerningit;whichis,that’tisonlyastrongandsteadyconceptionofanyidea,andsuchasapproachesinsomemeasuretoanimmediateimpression。
  20。[ThefollowingnoteisinsertedfromHumesAppendixtoBookNaturanenobis,inquit,datumdicam,anerrorequodam,ut,cumealocavideamus,inquibusmemoriadignosvirosacceperimusmulturnesseversatos,magismoveamur,quamsiquandoeorumipsorumautJactaaudiamus,autscriptumaliquodlegamus?velutegonuncmoveor。VenitenimmihiPlatonisinmentem:quemaccipimusprimurnhicdisputaresolitum:Cujusetiamillihortulipropinquinonmemoriamsolummihiafferunt,sedipsumvidenturinconspectumeohicponere。HicSpeusippus,hicXenocrates,hicejusauditorPolemo;cujusipsaillasessiofuit,quamvideamus。Equidemetiamcuriamnostram,hostiliamdico,nonhancnovam,quaemihiminoressevideturpostquamestmajor,solebarnintuensScipionem,Catonem,Laclium,nostrumveroinprimisavumcogitare。Tantavisadmonitionisinestinlocis;utnonsinecausaexhismemoriaeductasitdisciplina。CicerodeFinibus,lib。5。
  [’ShouldI,hesaid,’attributetoinstinctortosomekindofillusionthefactthatwhenweseethoseplacesinwhichwearetoldnotablemenspentmuchoftheirtime,wearemorepowerfullyaffectedthanwhenwehearoftheexploitsofthementhemselvesorreadsomethingwritten?Thisisjustwhatishappeningtomenow;forIamremindedofPlatowho,wearetold,wasthefirsttomakeapracticeofholdingdiscussionshere。Thosegardensofhisnearbydonotmerelyputmeinmindofhim;theyseemtosetthemanhimselfbeforemyveryeyes。Speusippuswashere;sowasXenocrates;sowashispupil,Polemo,andthatveryseatwhichwemayviewwashis。
  ’Thenagain,whenIlookedatourSenate-houseImeantheoldbuildingofHostilius,notthisnewone;whenitwasenlarged,itdiminishedinmyestimation,IusedtothinkofScipio,Cato,Laeliusandinparticularofmyowngrandfather。
  Suchisthepowerofplacestoevokeassociations;soitIswithgoodreasonthattheyareusedasabasisformemorytraining。]
  21。Ingeneralwemayobserve,thatasourassenttoallprobablereasoningsisfoundedonthevivacityofideas,Itresemblesmanyofthosewhimsiesandprejudices,whicharerejectedundertheopprobriouscharacterofbeingtheoffspringoftheimagination。Bythisexpressionitappearsthattheword,imagination,iscommonlyusdintwodifferentsenses;andthonothingbemorecontrarytotruephilosophy,thanthisinaccuracy,yetinthefollowingreasoningsIhaveoftenbeenobligdtofallintoit。WhenIopposetheImaginationtothememory,Imeanthefaculty,bywhichweformourfainterideas。WhenIopposeittoreason,Imeanthesamefaculty,excludingonlyourdemonstrativeandprobablereasonings。WhenIopposeittoneither,’tisindifferentwhetheritbetakeninthelargerormorelimitedsense,oratleastthecontextwillsufficientlyexplainthemeaning。
  22。PartIV。Sect。1。
  23。Sect。15。
  24。PartIV。Sect。1。
  25。Sect。2。
  26。SeeMr。Locke,chapterofpower。
  27。SeeFatherMalbranche,Bookvi。Part2,chap。3。Andtheillustrationsuponit。
  28。ThesameimperfectionattendsourideasoftheDeity;butthiscanhavenoeffecteitheronreligionormorals。Theorderoftheuniverseprovesanomnipotentmind;thatis,amindwhosewiliisconstantlyattendedwiththeobedienceofeverycreatureandbeing。Nothingmoreisrequisitetogiveafoundationtoallthearticlesofreligion。norisItnecessaryweshoudformadistinctideaoftheforceandenergyofthesupremeBeing。
  29。Sect。6。
  30。PartIV,Sect。5。
  31。PartI。Sect。5。
  32。Part。II。Sect。6。
  33。PartII,Sect。4。
  34。PartII,Sect。5。
  35。PartII。Sect。5。
  36。Thisreasoning,itmustbeconfest,issomewhatabstruse,anddifficulttobecomprehended;butitisremarkable,thatthisverydifficultymaybeconvertedintoaproofofthereasoning。Wemayobserve,thattherearetworelations,andbothofthemresemblances,whichcontributetoourmistakingthesuccessionofourinterruptedperceptionsforanidenticalobject。Thefirstis,theresemblanceoftheperceptions:Thesecondistheresemblance,whichtheactofthemindinsurveyingasuccessionofresemblingobjectsbearstothatinsurveyinganidenticalobject。Nowtheseresemblancesweareapttoconfoundwitheachother;and’tisnaturalweshoud,accordingtothisveryreasoning。Butletuskeepthemdistinct,andweshallfindnodifficultyinconceivingtheprecedentargument。
  37。Sect。6。
  38。Sect。5。
  39。PartII。Sect。4。
  40。Sect。2,towardstheend。
  41。PartII,Sect。6。
  42。SuchasthatofSect。2,formthecoherenceofourperceptions。
  43。SeeBayle’sdictionary,articleofSpinoza。
  44。PartIII。Sect。15。
  45。AsfatherMalebrancheandotherCartesians。
  46。Ifthereaderisdesiroustoseehowagreatgeniusmaybeinfluencdbytheseseeminglytrivialprinciplesoftheimagination,aswellasthemerevulgar,lethimreadmyLordShaftsburysreasoningsconcerningtheunitingprincipleoftheuniverse,andtheidentityofplantsandanimals。SeehisMoralists:or,Philosophicalrhapsody。
  47。Sect。4。
  48。PartIII。Sect。14。
  49。Sect。1。
  DavidHumeATreatiseofHumanNatureBookII
  OfthePassionsPARTI
  OfprideandhumilitySECT。I
  DivisionofthesubjectAsalltheperceptionsofthemindmaybedividedintoimpressionsandideas,sotheimpressionsadmitofanotherdivisionintooriginalandsecondary。Thisdivisionoftheimpressionsisthesamewiththatwhich1IformerlymadeuseofwhenIdistinguish’dthemintoimpressionsofsensationandreflection。Originalimpressionsorimpressionsofsensationaresuchaswithoutanyantecedentperceptionariseinthesoul,fromtheconstitutionofthebody,fromtheanimalspirits,orfromtheapplicationofobjectstotheexternalorgans。Secondary,orreflectiveimpressionsaresuchasproceedfromsomeoftheseoriginalones,eitherimmediatelyorbytheinterpositionofitsidea。Ofthefirstkindarealltheimpressionsofthesenses,andallbodilypainsandpleasures:Ofthesecondarethepassions,andotheremotionsresemblingthem。
  Tiscertain,thatthemind,initsperceptions,mustbeginsomewhere;andthatsincetheimpressionsprecedetheircorrespondentideas,theremustbesomeimpressions,whichwithoutanyintroductionmaketheirappearanceinthesoul。Asthesedependuponnaturalandphysicalcauses,theexaminationofthemwou’dleadmetoofarfrommypresentsubject,intothesciencesofanatomyandnaturalphilosophy。ForthisreasonIshallhereconfinemyselftothoseotherimpressions,whichIhavecall’dsecondaryandreflective,asarisingeitherfromtheoriginalimpressions,orfromtheirideas。Bodilypainsandpleasuresarethesourceofmanypassions,bothwhenfeltandconsider’dbythemind;butariseoriginallyinthesoul,orinthebody,whicheveryoupleasetocallit,withoutanyprecedingthoughtorperception。Afitofthegoutproducesalongtrainofpassions,asgrief,hope,fear;butisnotderiv’dimmediatelyfromanyaffectionoridea。Thereflectiveimpressionsmaybedividedintotwokinds,viz。thecalmandtheviolent。Ofthefirstkindisthesenseofbeautyanddeformityinaction,composition,andexternalobjects。Ofthesecondarethepassionsofloveandhatred,griefandjoy,prideandhumility。Thisdivisionisfarfrombeingexact。Therapturesofpoetryandmusicfrequentlyrisetothegreatestheight;whilethoseotherimpressions,properlycall’dpassions,maydecayintososoftanemotion,astobecome,inamanner,imperceptible。Butasingeneralthepassionsaremoreviolentthantheemotionsarisingfrombeautyanddeformity,theseimpressionshavebeencommonlydistinguish’dfromeachother。Thesubjectofthehumanmindbeingsocopiousandvarious,Ishallheretakeadvantageofthisvulgarandspaciousdivision,thatImayproceedwiththegreaterorder;andhavingsaidaliIthoughtnecessaryconcerningourideas,shallnowexplainthoseviolentemotionsorpassions,theirnature,origin,causes,andeffects。
  Whenwetakeasurveyofthepassions,thereoccursadivisionofthemintodirectandindirect。BydirectpassionsIunderstandsuchasariseimmediatelyfromgoodorevil,frompainorpleasure。Byindirectsuchasproceedfromthesameprinciples,butbytheconjunctionofotherqualities。ThisdistinctionIcannotatpresentjustifyorexplainanyfarther。Icanonlyobserveingeneral,thatundertheindirectpassionsIcomprehendpride,humility,ambition,vanity,love,hatred,envy,pity,malice,generosity,withtheirdependants。Andunderthedirectpassions,desire,aversion,grief,joy,hope,fear,despairandsecurity。Ishallbeginwiththeformer。
  SECT。II
  Ofprideandhumility;theirobjectsandcausesThepassionsofPRIDEandHUMILITYbeingsimpleanduniformimpressions,`tisimpossiblewecanever,byamultitudeofwords,giveajustdefinitionofthem,orindeedofanyofthepassions。Theutmostwecanpretendtoisadescriptionofthem,byanenumerationofsuchcircumstances,asattendthem:Butasthesewords,prideandhumility,areofgeneraluse,andtheimpressionstheyrepresentthemostcommonofany,everyone,ofhimself,willbeabletoformajustideaofthem,withoutanydangerofmistake。Forwhichreason,nottolosetimeuponpreliminaries,Ishallimmediatelyenterupontheexaminationofthesepassions。
  `Tisevident,thatprideandhumility,tho’directlycontrary,haveyetthesameOBJECT。Thisobjectisself,orthatsuccessionofrelatedideasandimpressions,ofwhichwehaveanintimatememoryandconsciousness。`Heretheviewalwaysfixeswhenweareactuatedbyeitherofthesepassions。Accordingasourideaofourselfismoreorlessadvantageous,wefeeleitherofthoseoppositeaffections,andareelatedbypride,ordejectedwithhumility。Whateverotherobjectsmaybecomprehendedbythemind,theyarealwaysconsider’dwithaviewtoourselves;otherwisetheywouldneverbeableeithertoexcitethesepassions,orproducethesmallestencreaseordiminutionofthem。Whenselfentersnotintotheconsideration,thereisnoroomeitherforprideorhumility。
  Buttho’thatconnectedsuccessionofperceptions,whichwecallself,bealwaystheobjectofthesetwopassions,`tisimpossibleitcanbetheirCAUSE,orbesufficientalonetoexcitethem。Forasthesepassionsaredirectlycontrary,andhavethesameobjectincommon;weretheirobjectalsotheircause;itcou’dneverproduceanydegreeoftheonepassion,butatthesametimeitmustexciteanequaldegreeoftheother;whichoppositionandcontrarietymustdestroyboth。Tisimpossibleamancanatthesametimebebothproudandhumble;andwherehehasdifferentreasonsforthesepassions,asfrequentlyhappens,thepassionseithertakeplacealternately;oriftheyencounter,theoneannihilatestheother,asfarasitsstrengthgoes,andtheremainderonlyofthat,whichissuperior,continuestooperateuponthemind。Butinthepresentcaseneitherofthepassionscou’deverbecomesuperior;becausesupposingittobetheviewonlyofourself,whichexcitedthem,thatbeingperfectlyindifferenttoeither,mustproducebothintheverysameproportion;orinotherwords,canproduceneither。Toexciteanypassion,andat’thesametimeraiseanequalshareofitsantagonist,isimmediatelytoundowhatwasdone,andmustleavethemindatlastperfectlycalmandindifferent。
  Wemusttherefore,makeadistinctionbetwixtthecauseandtheobjectofthesepassions;betwixtthatidea,whichexcitesthem,andthattowhichtheydirecttheirview,whenexcited。Prideandhumility,beingoncerais’d,immediatelyturnourattentiontoourself,andregardthatastheirultimateandfinalobject;butthereissomethingfartherrequisiteinordertoraisethem:Something,whichispeculiartooneofthepassions,andproducesnotbothintheverysamedegree。Thefirstidea,thatispresentedtothemind,isthatofthecauseorproductiveprinciple。Thisexcitesthepassion,connectedwithit;andthatpassion,whenexcited。turnsourviewtoanotheridea,whichisthatofself。Herethenisapassionplac’dbetwixttwoideas,ofwhichtheoneproducesit,andtheotherisproduc’dbyit。Thefirstidea,therefore,representsthecause,thesecondtheobjectofthepassion。
  Tobeginwiththecausesofprideandhumility;wemayobserve,thattheirmostobviousandremarkablepropertyisthevastvarietyofsubjects,onwhichtheymaybeplac’d。Everyvaluablequalityofthemind,whetheroftheimagination,judgment,memoryordisposition;wit,good-sense,learning,courage,justice,integrity;allthesearethecauseofpride;andtheiroppositesofhumility。Norarethesepassionsconfin’dtothemindbutextendtheirviewtothebodylikewise。Amanmayheproudofhisbeauty,strength,agility,goodmein,addressindancing,riding,andofhisdexterityinanymanualbusinessormanufacture。Butthisisnotall。Thepassionslookingfarther,comprehendwhateverobjectsareintheleastally’dorrelatedtous。Ourcountry,family,children,relations,riches,houses,gardens,horses,dogs,cloaths;anyofthesemaybecomeacauseeitherofprideorofhumility。
  Fromtheconsiderationofthesecauses,itappearsnecessaryweshoudmakeanewdistinctioninthecausesofthepassion,betwixtthatquality,whichoperates,andthesubject,onwhichitisplac’d。Aman,forinstance,isvainofabeautifulhouse,whichbelongstohim,orwhichhehashimselfbuiltandcontriv’d。Heretheobjectofthepassionishimself,andthecauseisthebeautifulhouse:Whichcauseagainissub-dividedintotwoparts,viz。thequality,whichoperatesuponthepassion,andthesubjectinwhichthequalityinheres。Thequalityisthebeauty,andthesubjectisthehouse,consider’dashispropertyorcontrivance。Boththesepartsareessential,noristhedistinctionvainandchimerical。Beauty,consider’dmerelyassuch,unlessplac’duponsomethingrelatedtous,neverproducesanyprideorvanity;andthestrongest。relationalone,withoutbeauty,orsomethingelseinitsplace,hasaslittleinfluenceonthatpassion。Since,therefore,thesetwoparticularsareeasilyseparatedandthereisanecessityfortheirconjunction,inordertoproducethepassion,weoughttoconsiderthemascomponentpartsofthecause;andinfixinourmindsanexactideaofthisdistinction。
  SECT。IIIWhencetheseobjectsandcausesarederiv’dBeingsofaradvanc’dastoobserveadifferencebetwixttheobjectofthepassionsandtheircause,andtodistinguishinthecausethequality,whichoperatesonthepassions,fromthesubject,inwhichitinheres;wenowproceedtoexaminewhatdetermineseachofthemtobewhatitis,andassignssuchaparticularobject,andquality,andsubjecttotheseaffections。Bythismeansweshallfullyunderstandtheoriginofprideandhumility。
  `Tisevidentinthefirstplace,thatthesepassionsarederermin’dtohaveselffortheirobject,notonlybyanaturalbutalsobyanoriginalproperty。Noonecandoubtbutthispropertyisnaturalfromtheconstancyandsteadinessofitsoperations。Tisalwaysself,whichistheobjectofprideandhumility;andwheneverthepassionslookbeyond,`tisstillwithaviewtoourselves,norcananypersonorobjectotherwisehaveanyinfluenceuponus。
  Thatthisproceedsfromanoriginalqualityorprimaryimpulse,willlikewiseappearevident,ifweconsiderthat`tisthedistinguishingcharacteristicofthesepassionsUnlessnaturehadgivensomeoriginalqualitiestothemind,itcou’dneverhaveanysecondaryones;becauseinthatcaseitwou’dhavenofoundationforaction,norcou’deverbegintoexertitself。Nowthesequalities,whichwemustconsiderasoriginal,aresuchasaremostinseparablefromthesoul,andcanberesolv’dintonoother:Andsuchisthequality,whichdeterminestheobjectofprideandhumility。Wemay,perhaps,makeitagreaterquestion,whetherthecauses,thatproducethepassion,beasnaturalastheobject,towhichitisdirected,andwhetherallthatvastvarietyproceedsfromcapriceorfromtheconstitutionofthemind。Thisdoubtweshallsoonremove,ifwecastoureyeuponhumannature,andconsiderthatinallnationsandages,thesameobjectsstillgiverisetoprideandhumility;andthatupontheviewevenofastranger,wecanknowprettynearly,whatwilleitherencreaseordiminishhispassionsofthiskind。Iftherebeanyvariationinthisparticular,itproceedsfromnothingbutadifferenceinthetempersandcomplexionsofmen;andisbesidesveryinconsiderable。Canweimagineitpossible,thatwhilehumannatureremainsthesame,menwilleverbecomeentirelyindifferenttotheirpower,riches,beautyorpersonalmerit,andthattheirprideandvanitywillnotbeaffectedbytheseadvantages?
  Buttho’thecausesofprideandhumilitybeplainlynatural,weshallfinduponexamination,thattheyarenotoriginal,andthat`tisutterlyimpossibletheyshou’deachofthembeadaptedtothesepassionsbyaparticularprovision,andprimaryconstitutionofnature,Besidetheirprodigiousnumber,manyofthemaretheeffectsofart,andarisepartlyfromtheindustry,partlyfromthecaprice,andpartlyfromthegoodfortuneofmen,Industryproduceshouses,furniture,cloaths。Capricedeterminestheirparticularkindsandqualities。Andgoodfortunefrequentlycontributestoallthis,bydiscoveringtheeffectsthatresultfromthedifferentmixturesandcombinationsofbodies。Tisabsurd,therefore,toimagine,thateachofthesewasforeseenandprovidedforbynature,andthateverynewproductionofart,whichcausesprideorhumility;insteadofadaptingitselftothepassionbypartakingofsomegeneralquality,thatnaturallyoperatesonthemind;isitselftheobjectofanoriginalprinciple,whichtillthenlayconceal’dinthesoul,andisonlybyaccidentatlastbroughttolight。Thusthefirstmechanic,thatinventedafinescritoire,produc’dprideinhim,whobecamepossestofit,byprinciplesdifferentfromthose,whichmadehimproudofhandsomechairsandtables。Asthisappearsevidentlyridiculous,wemustconclude,thateachcauseofprideandhumilityisnotadaptedtothepassionsbyadistinctoriginalquality;butthattherearesomeoneormorecircumstancescommontoallofthem,onwhichtheirefficacydepends。
  Besides,wefindinthecourseofnature,thattho’theeffectsbemany,theprinciples,fromwhichtheyarise,arecommonlybutfewandsimple,andthat`tisthesignofanunskilfulnaturalisttohaverecoursetoadifferentquality,inordertoexplaineverydifferentoperation。Howmuchmoremustthisbetruewithregardtothehumanmind,whichbeingsoconfin’dasubjectmayjustlybethoughtincapableofcontainingsuchamonstrousheapofprinciples,aswoudbenecessarytoexcitethepassionsofprideandhumility,wereeachdistinctcauseadaptedtothepassionbyadistinctsetofprinciples?
  Here,therefore,moralphilosophyisinthesameconditionasnatural,withregardtoastronomybeforethetimeofCopernicus。Theantients,tho’sensibleofthatmaxim,thatnaturedoesnothinginvain,contriv’dsuchintricatesystemsoftheheavens,asseem’dinconsistentwithtruephilosophy,andgaveplaceatlasttosomethingmoresimpleandnatural。Toinventwithoutscrupleanewprincipletoeverynewphaenomenon,insteadofadaptingittotheold;tooverloadourhypotheseswithavarietyofthiskind;arecertainproofs,thatnoneoftheseprinciplesisthejustone,andthatweonlydesire,byanumberoffalsehoods,tocoverourignoranceofthetruth。
  OftherelationsofimpressionsandideasThuswehaveestablish’dtwotruthswithoutanyobstacleordifficulty,that`tisfromnaturalprinciplesthisvarietyofcausesexcitesprideandhumility,andthat`tisnotbyadifferentprincipleeachdifferentcauseisadaptedtoitspassion。Weshallnowproceedtoenquirehowwemayreducetheseprinciplestoalessernumber,andfindamongthecausessomethingcommon,onwhichtheirinfluencedepends。
  Inordertothiswemustreflectoncertainpropertiesofhumannature,whichtho’theyhaveamightyinfluenceoneveryoperationbothoftheunderstandingandpassions,arenotcommonlymuchinsistedonbyphilosophers。Thefirstoftheseistheassociationofideas,whichIhavesooftenobserv’dandexplain’d。Tisimpossibleforthemindtofixitselfsteadilyupononeideaforanyconsiderabletime;norcanitbyitsutmosteffortseverarriveatsuchaconstancy。Buthoweverchangeableourthoughtsmaybe,theyarenotentirelywithoutruleandmethodintheirchanges。Therule,bywhichtheyproceed,istopassfromoneobjecttowhatisresembling,contiguousto,orproduc’dbyit。Whenoneideaispresenttotheimagination,anyother,unitedbytheserelations,naturallyfollowsit,andenterswithmorefacilitybymeansofthatintroduction。
  ThesecondpropertyIshallobserveinthehumanmindisalikeassociationofimpressions。Allresemblingimpressionsareconnectedtogether,andnosooneronearisesthanthe`restimmediatelyfollow。Griefanddisappointmentgiverisetoanger,angertoenvy,envytomalice,andmalicetogriefagain,tillthewholecirclebecompleated。Inlikemannerourtemper,whenelevatedwithjoy,naturallythrowsitselfintolove,generosity,pity,courage,pride,andtheotherresemblingaffections。`Tisdifficultforthemind,whenactuatedbyanypassion,toconfineitselftothatpassionalone,withoutanychangeorvariation。Humannatureistooinconstanttoadmitofanysuchregularity。Changeablenessisessentialtoit。Andtowhatcanitsonaturallychangeastoaffectionsoremotions,whicharesuitabletothetemper,andagreewiththatsetofpassions,whichthenprevail?`Tisevident,then,thereisanattractionorassociationamongimpressions,aswellasamongideas;tho’withthisremarkabledifference,thatideasareassociatedbyresemblance,contiguity,andcausation;andimpressionsonlybyresemblance。
  Inthethirdplace,`tisobservableofthesetwokindsofassociation,thattheyverymuchassistandforwardeachother,andthatthetransitionismoreeasilymadewheretheybothconcurinthesameobject。Thusaman,who,byanyinjuryfromanother,isverymuchdiscompos’dandruffledinhistemper,isapttofindahundredsubjectsofdiscontent,impatience,fear,andotheruneasypassions;especiallyifhecandiscoverthesesubjectsinorneartheperson,whowasthecauseofhisfirstpassion。Thoseprinciples,whichforwardthetransitionofideas,hereconcurwiththose,whichoperateonthepassions;andbothunitinginoneaction,bestowonthemindadoubleimpulse。Thenewpassion,therefore,mustarisewithsomuchgreaterviolence,andthetransitiontoitmustberender’dsomuchmoreeasyandnatural。
  UponthisoccasionImaycitetheauthorityofanelegantwriter,whoexpresseshimselfinthefollowingmanner。
  `Asthefancydelightsineverythingthatisgreat,strange,orbeautiful,andisstillmorepleas’dthemoreitfindsoftheseperfectionsinthesameobject,soitiscapableofreceivinganewsatisfactionbytheassistanceofanothersense。Thusanycontinu’dsound,asthemusicofbirds,orafallofwaters,awakenseverymomentthemindofthebeholder,andmakeshimmoreattentivetotheseveralbeautiesoftheplace,thatliebeforehim。Thusiftherearisesafragrancyofsmellsorperfumes,theyheightenthepleasureoftheimagination,andmakeeventhecoloursandverdureofthelandschapeappearmoreagreeable;fortheideasofbothsensesrecommendeachother,andarepleasantertogetherthanwhentheyenterthemindseparately:Asthedifferentcoloursofapicture,whentheyarewelldisposed,setoffoneanother,andreceiveanadditionalbeautyfromtheadvantageofthesituation。’[Addison,Spectator412,finalparagraph。]
  Inthisphaenomenonwemayremarktheassociationbothofimpressionsandideas,aswellasthemutualassistancetheylendeachother。
  SECT。VOftheinfluenceoftheserelationsonprideandhumilityTheseprinciplesbeingestablish’donunquestionableexperience,Ibegintoconsiderhowweshallapplythem,byrevolvingoverallthecausesofprideandhumility,whetherthesecausesberegarded,asthequalities,thatoperate,orasthesubjects,onwhichthequalitiesareplac’d。InexaminingthesequalitiesIimmediatelyfindmanyofthemtoconcurinproducingthesensationofpainandpleasure,independentofthoseaffections,whichIhereendeavourtoexplain。Thusthebeautyofourperson,ofitself,andbyitsveryappearance,givespleasure,aswellaspride;anditsdeformity,painaswellashumility。Amagnificentfeastdelightsus,andasordidonedispleases。WhatIdiscovertobetrueinsomeinstances,Isupposetobesoinall;andtakeitforgrantedatpresent,withoutanyfartherproof,thateverycauseofpride,byitspeculiarqualities,producesaseparatepleasure,andofhumilityaseparateuneasiness。
  Again,inconsideringthesubjects,towhichthesequalitiesadhere,Imakeanewsupposition,whichalsoappearsprobablefrommanyobviousinstances,viz,thatthesesubjectsareeitherpartsofourselves,orsomethingnearlyrelatedtous。Thusthegoodandbadqualitiesofouractionsandmannersconstitutevirtueandvice,anddetermineourpersonalcharacter,thanwhichnothingoperatesmorestronglyonthesepassions。Inlikemanner,`tisthebeautyordeformityofourperson,houses,equipage,orfurniture,bywhichwearerender’deithervainorhumble。Thesamequalities,whentransfer’dtosubjects,whichbearusnorelation,influencenotinthesmallestdegreeeitheroftheseaffections。
  Havingthusinamannersuppos’dtwopropertiesofthecausesoftheseaffections,viz,thatthequalitiesproduceaseparatepainorpleasure,andthatthesubjects,onwhichthequalitiesareplac’d,arerelatedtoself;Iproceedtoexaminethepassionsthemselves,inordertofindsomethinginthem,correspondentrothesuppos’dpropertiesoftheircauses。First,Ifind,thatthepeculiarobjectofprideandhumilityisdetermin’dbyanoriginalandnaturalinstinct,andthat`tisabsolutelyimpossible,fromtheprimaryconstitutionofthemind,thatthesepassionsshou’deverlookbeyondself,orthatindividualperson。ofwhoseactionsandsentimentseachofusisintimatelyconscious。Hereatlasttheviewalwaysrests,whenweareactuatedbyeitherofthesepassions;norcanwe,inthatsituationofmind,everlosesightofthisobject。ForthisIpretendnottogiveanyreason;butconsidersuchapeculiardirectionofthethoughtasanoriginalquality。
  Thesecondquality,whichIdiscoverinthesepassions,andwhichIlikewiseconsiderananoriginalquality,istheirsensations,orthepeculiaremotionstheyexciteinthesoul,andwhichconstitutetheirverybeingandessence。Thusprideisapleasantsensation,andhumilityapainful;andupontheremovalofthepleasureandpain,thereisinrealitynopridenorhumility。Ofthisourveryfeelingconvincesus;andbeyondourfeeling,`tishereinvaintoreasonordispute。
  IfIcompare,therefore,thesetwoestablish’dpropertiesofthepassions,viz,theirobject,whichisself,andtheirsensation,whichiseitherpleasantorpainful,tothetwosuppos’dpropertiesofthecauses,viz,theirrelationtoself,andtheirtendencytoproduceapainorpleasure,independentofthepassion;Iimmediatelyfind,thattakingthesesuppositionstobejust,thetruesystembreaksinuponmewithanirresistibleevidence。Thatcause,whichexcitesthepassion,isrelatedtotheobject,whichnaturehasattributedtothepassion;thesensation,whichthecauseseparatelyproduces,isrelatedtothesensationofthepassion:Fromthisdoublerelationofideasandimpressions,thepassionisderiv’d。Theoneideaiseasilyconvertedintoitscorrelative;andtheoneimpressionintothat,whichresemblesandcorrespondstoit:Withhowmuchgreaterfacilitymustthistransitionbemade,wherethesemovementsmutuallyassisteachother,andthemindreceivesadoubleimpulsefromtherelationsbothofitsimpressionsandideas?
  Thatwemaycomprehendthisthebetter,wemustsuppose,thatnaturehasgiventotheorgansofthehumanmind,acertaindispositionfittedtoproduceapeculiarimpressionoremotion,whichwecallpride:Tothisemotionshehasassign’dacertainidea,viz,thatofself,whichitneverfailstoproduce。Thiscontrivanceofnatureiseasilyconceiv’d。Wehavemanyinstancesofsuchasituationofaffairs。Thenervesofthenoseandpalatearesodispos’d,asincertaincircumstancestoconveysuchpeculiarsensationstothemind:Thesensationsoflustandhungeralwaysproduceinustheideaofthosepeculiarobjects,whicharesuitabletoeachappetite。Thesetwocircumstancesareunitedinpride。Theorgansaresodispos’dastoproducethepassion;andthepassion,afteritsproduction,naturallyproducesacertainidea。Allthisneedsnoproof。`Tisevidentwenevershou’dbepossestofthatpassion,weretherenotadispositionofmindproperforit;and`tisasevident,thatthepassionalwaysturnsourviewtoourselves,andmakesusthinkofourownqualitiesandcircumstances。
  Thisbeingfullycomprehended,itmaynowbeask’d,Whethernatureproducesthepassionimmediately,ofherself;orwhethershemustbeassistedbytheco-operationofothercauses?For`tisobservable,thatinthisparticularherconductisdifferentinthedifferentpassionsandsensations。Thepalatemustbeexcitedbyanexternalobject,inordertoproduceanyrelish:Buthungerarisesinternally,withouttheconcurrenceofanyexternalobject。Buthoweverthecasemaystandwithotherpassionsandimpressions,`tiscertain,thatpriderequirestheassistanceofsomeforeignobject,andthattheorgans,whichproduceit,exertnotthemselvesliketheheartandarteries,byanoriginalinternalmovement。Forfirst,dailyexperienceconvincesus,thatpriderequirescertaincausestoexciteit,andlanguisheswhenunsupportedbysomeexcellencyinthecharacter,inbodilyaccomplishments,incloaths,equipageorfortune。Secondly,`tisevidentpridewou’dbeperpetual,ifitaroseimmediatelyfromnature;sincetheobjectisalwaysthesame,andthereisnodispositionofbodypeculiartopride,asthereistothirstandhunger。Thirdly,Humilityisintheverysamesituationwithpride;andtherefore,eithermust,uponthissupposition,beperpetuallikewise,ormustdestroythecontrarypassionfrom,theveryfirstmoment;sothatnoneofthemcou’devermakeitsappearance。Uponthewhole,wemayrestsatisfy’dwiththeforegoingconclusion,thatpridemusthaveacause,aswellasanobject,andthattheonehasnoinfluencewithouttheother。
  Thedifficulty,then,isonlytodiscoverthiscause,andfindwhatitisthatgivesthefirstmotiontopride,andsetsthoseorgansinaction,whicharenaturallyfittedtoproducethatemotion。Uponmyconsultingexperience,inordertoresolvethisdifficulty,Iimmediatelyfindahundreddifferentcauses,thatproducepride;anduponexaminingthesecauses,Isuppose,whatatfirstIperceivetobeprobable,thatallofthemconcurintwocircumstances;whichare,thatofthemselvestheyproduceanimpression,ally’dtothepassion,andareplac’donasubject,ally’dtotheobjectofthepassion。WhenIconsiderafterthisthenatureofrelation,anditseffectsbothonthepassionsandideas,Icannolongerdoubt,uponthesesuppositions,that`tistheveryprinciple,whichgivesrisetopride,andbestowsmotiononthoseorgans,whichbeingnaturallydispos’dtoproducethataffection,requireonlyafirstimpulseorbeginningtotheiraction。Anything,thatgivesapleasantsensation,andisrelatedtoself,excitesthepassionofpride,whichisalsoagreeable,andhasselfforitsobject。
  WhatIhavesaidofprideisequallytrueofhumility。Thesensationofhumilityisuneasy,asthatofprideisagreeable;forwhichreasontheseparatesensation,arisingfromthecauses,mustberevers’d,whiletherelationtoselfcontinuesthesame。Tho’prideandhumilityaredirectlycontraryintheireffects,andintheirsensations,theyhavenotwithstandingthesameobject;sothat`tisrequisiteonlytochangetherelationofimpressions,withoutmakinganychangeuponthatofideas。Accordinglywefind,thatabeautifulhouse,belongingtoourselves,producespride;andthatthesamehouse,stillbelongingtoourselves,produceshumility,whenbyanyaccidentitsbeautyischang’dintodeformity,andtherebythesensationofpleasure,whichcorrespondedtopride,istransform’dintopain,whichisrelatedtohumility。Thedoublerelationbetweentheideasandimpressionssubsistsinbothcases,andproducesaneasytransitionfromtheoneemotiontotheother。
  Inaword,naturehasbestow’dakindofattractiononcertainimpressionsandideas,bywhichoneofthem,uponitsappearance,naturallyintroducesitscorrelative。Ifthesetwoattractionsorassociationsofimpressionsandideasconcuronthesameobject,theymutuallyassisteachother,andthetransitionoftheaffectionsandoftheimaginationismadewiththegreatesteaseandfacility。Whenanideaproducesanimpression,relatedtoanimpression,whichisconnectedwithanidea,relatedtothefirstidea,thesetwoimpressionsmustbeinamannerinseparable,norwilltheoneinanycasebeunattendedwiththeother。`Tisafterthismanner,thattheparticularcausesofprideandhumilityaredetermin’d。Thequality,whichoperatesonthepassion,producesseparatelyanimpressionresemblingit;thesubject,towhichthequalityadheres,isrelatedtoself,theobjectofthepassion:Nowonderthewholecause,consistingofaqualityandofasubject,doessounavoidablygiverisetothepasson。
  Toillustratethishypothesis。wemaycompareittothat,bywhichIhavealreadyexplain’dthebeliefattendingthejudgments,whichweformfromcausation。Ihaveobserv’d,thatinalljudgmentsofthiskind,thereisalwaysapresentimpression。andarelatedidea;andthatthepresentimpressiongivesavivacitytothefancy,andtherelationconveysthisvivacity,byaneasytransition,totherelatedidea。Withoutthepresentimpression,theattentionisnotfix’d,northespiritsexcited。Withouttherelation,thisattentionrestsonitsfirstobject,andhasnofartherconsequence。Thereisevidentlyagreatanalogybetwixtthathypothesis。andourpresentoneofanimpressionandidea,thattransfusethemselvesintoanotherimpressionandideabymeansoftheirdoublerelation:Whichanalogymustbeallow’dtobenodespicableproofofbothhypotheses。