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my object to establish by a more ample discussion. At that time, I did not imagine that it differed so widely from the current maxims of the learned, as I have since found from various later publications; and accordingly, (as the point in dispute is intimately connected with almost every other question relating to the human mind) I have availed myself of the present opportunity to throw upon it some additional light, before resuming my analysis of the Intellectual Powers. With this view, I have been led to canvass, pretty freely, the doctrines not only of my predecessors, but of several of my contemporaries;' and to engage in various arguments, which, however unconnected they may appear in a table of contents, will be all found, upon examination, to bear upon the same conclusion. I flatter myself, therefore, that those who may take the trouble to follow the train of thought which has led me from one Essay to another, will discover in this part of my book a greater degree of unity, than its title-page seems at first to promise.

The Essays which fill up the rest of the volume have no necessary dependence on the disquisitions to which they are subjoined; and may perhaps be read with some interest by readers who have little relish for scholastic controversy. The choice, however, even of these, was not altogether arbitrary; as, I trust, will appear evident to such as may honour the whole series with an attentive perusal.

Of the speculations with respect to the origin of our ideas, the greater part were committed to writing, for the first time, during the course of the last summer and winter; the materials of some of them being supplied by very imperfect hints, noted down at different periods of my

life. The business of composition was begun at a time when I had recourse to it occasionally as a refuge from other thoughts; and has been carried on under circumstances, which, I doubt not, will incline those to whom they are known, to judge of the execution with some degree of indulgence.

PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS.

PART FIRST.

2

PHILOSOPHICAL ESSAYS.

PART FIRST.

ESSAY FIRST.

ON LOCKE'S ACCOUNT OF THE SOURCES OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE, AND ITS INFLUENCE ON THE DOC TRINES OF SOME OF HIS SUCCESSORS.

CHAPTER FIRST.

INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS.

IN speculating concerning any of the intellectual pheno

mena, it is of essential importance for us constantly to recollect, that, as our knowledge of the material world is derived entirely from our external senses, so all our knowledge of the human mind is derived from consciousness. As to the blind or the deaf, no words can convey the notions of particular colours, or of particular sounds; so to a being who had never been conscious of sensation, memory, imagination, pleasure, pain, hope, fear, love, hatred, no intelligible description could be given of the import of these terms. They all express simple ideas or notions, which are perfectly familiar to every person who is able to turn his thoughts inwards, and which we never fail to involve in obscurity when we attempt to define

them.*

* See Note (A).

I

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