or that
particular man; but Man-kind; which though it be hard to do, harder
than to learn any Language, or Science; yet, when I shall have set down
my own reading orderly, and perspicuously, the pains left another, will
be onely to consider, if he also find not the same in himselfe. For this
kind of Doctrine, admitteth no other Demonstration.
PART 1 OF MAN
CHAPTER 1
OF SENSE
Concerning the Thoughts of man, I will consider them first Singly, and
afterwards in Trayne, or dependance upon one another. Singly, they are
every one a Representation or Apparence, of some quality, or other
Accident of a body without us; which is commonly called an Object.
Which Object worketh on the Eyes, Eares, and other parts of mans
body; and by diversity of working, produceth diversity of Apparences.
The Originall of them all, is that which we call Sense; (For there is no
conception in a mans mind, which hath not at first, totally, or by parts,
been begotten upon the organs of Sense.) The rest are derived from that
originall.
To know the naturall cause of Sense, is not very necessary to the
business now in hand; and I have els-where written of the same at large.
Nevertheless, to fill each part of my present method, I will briefly
deliver the same in this place.
The cause of Sense, is the Externall Body, or Object, which presseth
the organ proper to each Sense, either immediatly, as in the Tast and
Touch; or mediately, as in Seeing, Hearing, and Smelling: which
pressure, by the mediation of Nerves, and other strings, and membranes
of the body, continued inwards to the Brain, and Heart, causeth there a
resistance, or counter-pressure, or endeavour of the heart, to deliver it
self: which endeavour because Outward, seemeth to be some matter
without. And this Seeming, or Fancy, is that which men call sense; and
consisteth, as to the Eye, in a Light, or Colour Figured; To the Eare, in
a Sound; To the Nostrill, in an Odour; To the Tongue and Palat, in a
Savour; and to the rest of the body, in Heat, Cold, Hardnesse, Softnesse,
and such other qualities, as we discern by Feeling. All which qualities
called Sensible, are in the object that causeth them, but so many several
motions of the matter, by which it presseth our organs diversly. Neither
in us that are pressed, are they anything els, but divers motions; (for
motion, produceth nothing but motion.) But their apparence to us is
Fancy, the same waking, that dreaming. And as pressing, rubbing, or
striking the Eye, makes us fancy a light; and pressing the Eare,
produceth a dinne; so do the bodies also we see, or hear, produce the
same by their strong, though unobserved action, For if those Colours,
and Sounds, were in the Bodies, or Objects that cause them, they could
not bee severed from them, as by glasses, and in Ecchoes by reflection,
wee see they are; where we know the thing we see, is in one place; the
apparence, in another. And though at some certain distance, the reall,
and very object seem invested with the fancy it begets in us; Yet still
the object is one thing, the image or fancy is another. So that Sense in
all cases, is nothing els but originall fancy, caused (as I have said) by
the pressure, that is, by the motion, of externall things upon our Eyes,
Eares, and other organs thereunto ordained.
But the Philosophy-schooles, through all the Universities of
Christendome, grounded upon certain Texts of Aristotle, teach another
doctrine; and say, For the cause of Vision, that the thing seen, sendeth
forth on every side a Visible Species(in English) a Visible Shew,
Apparition, or Aspect, or a Being Seen; the receiving whereof into the
Eye, is Seeing. And for the cause of Hearing, that the thing heard,
sendeth forth an Audible Species, that is, an Audible Aspect, or
Audible Being Seen; which entring at the Eare, maketh Hearing. Nay
for the cause of Understanding also, they say the thing Understood
sendeth forth Intelligible Species, that is, an Intelligible Being Seen;
which comming into the Understanding, makes us Understand. I say
not this, as disapproving the use of Universities: but because I am to
speak hereafter of their office in a Common-wealth, I must let you see
on all occasions by the way, what things would be amended in them;
amongst which the frequency of insignificant Speech is one.
CHAPTER II
OF IMAGINATION
That when a thing lies still, unlesse somewhat els stirre it, it will lye
still for ever, is a truth that no man doubts of. But that when a thing is
in motion, it will eternally be in motion, unless somewhat els stay it,
though
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