Made by the mind. are the complex ideas we mark by the names Obligation, Drunkennefs, a Lye, &c. which confifting of feveral combinations of fimple ideas of different kinds, I have called mixed modes, to diftinguish them from the more fimple modes, which confift only of fimple ideas of the fame kind. These mixed modes being alfo fuch combinations of fimple ideas, as are not looked upon to be characteristical marks of any real beings that have a fteady existence, but scattered and independent ideas put together by the mind, are thereby distinguished from the complex ideas of fubftances. §. 2. That the mind, in refpect of its fimple ideas, is wholly paffive, and receives them all from the existence and operations of things, fuch as fenfation or reflection offers them, without being able to make any one idea, experience fhows us but if we attentively confider thefe ideas I call mixed modes, we are now speaking of, we shall find their original quite different. The mind often exercifes an active power in making these several combinations: for it being once furnished with fimple ideas, it can put them together in feveral compofitions, and fo make variety of complex ideas, without examining whether they exift fo together in nature. And hence I think it is that these ideas are called notions, as if they had their original and conftant existence more in the thoughts of men, than in the reality of things; and to form fuch ideas, it fufficed, that the mind puts the parts of them together, and that they were confiftent in the understanding, without confidering whether they had any real being: though I do not deny, but feveral of them might be taken from obfervation, and the exiftence of feveral fimple ideas fo combined, as they are put together in the understanding. For the man who first framed the idea. of hypocrify, might have either taken it at first from the obfervation of one, who made fhow of good qualities which he had not, or else have framed that idea in his mind, without having any fuch pattern to fashion it by: for it is evident, that in the beginning of languages and focieties of men, feveral of thofe complex ideas, which were confequent to the conT 2 ftitutions ftitutions established amongst them, muft needs have been in the minds of men, before they existed any where elfe and that many names that stood for fuch complex ideas were in ufe, and fo those ideas framed, before the combinations they ftood for ever existed. Sometimes got by the explication of their names. §. 3. Indeed now that languages are made, and abound with words ftanding for fuch combinations, an ufual way of getting these complex ideas is by the explication of thofe terms that ftand for them. For confifting of a company of fimple ideas combined, they may by words, ftanding for thofe fimple ideas, be represented to the mind of one who understands those words, though that complex combination of fimple ideas were never offered to his mind by the real existence of things. Thus a man may come to have the idea of facrilege or murder, by enumerating to him the fimple ideas which thefe words ftand for, without ever feeing either of them committed. The name of mixed modes into one idea. 5. 4. Every mixed mode confifting of ties the parts many diftinct fimple ideas, it feems reafonable to inquire, "whence it has its unity, "and how fuch a precife multitude comes "to make but one idea, fince that combi"nation does not always exift together in nature?" To which I answer, it is plain it has its unity from an act of the mind combining thofe feveral fimple ideas together, and confidering them as one complex one, confifting of thofe parts; and the mark of this union, or that which is looked on generally to complete it, is one name given to that combination. For it is by their names that men commonly regulate their account of their diftinct fpecies of mixed modes, feldom allowing or confidering any number of fimple ideas to make one complex one, but fuch collections as there be names for. Thus, though the killing of an old man be as fit in nature to be united into one complex idea, as the killing a man's father; yet there being no name ftanding precifely for the one, as there is the name of parricide to mark the other, it is not taken for a particular com plex idea, nor a distinct fpecies of actions from that of killing a young man, or any other man. The caufe mixed modes. of making §. 5. If we fhould inquire a little farther, to fee what it is that occafions men to make feveral combinations of fimple ideas into diftinct, and, as it were, fettled modes, and neglect others which, in the nature of things themselves, have as much an aptnefs to be combined and make distinct ideas, we fhall find the reason of it to be the end of language; which being to mark, or communicate men's thoughts to one another with all the dispatch that may be, they ufually make such collections of ideas into complex modes, and affix names to them, as they have frequent ufe of in their way of living and converfation, leaving others, which they have but feldom an occafion to mention, loose and without names to tie them together; they rather choofing to enumerate (when they have need) fuch ideas as make them up, by the particular names that ftand for them, than to trouble their memories by multiplying of complex ideas with names to them, which they seldom or never have any occafion to make ufe of. §. 6. This fhows us how it comes to pafs, that there are in every language many particular words, which cannot be rendered by any one fingle word of another. For the feveral fashions, cuftoms, and manners of one nation, making feveral combinations of ideas familiar and neceffary in one, which another people have had never any occafion to make, or perhaps fo much as taken notice of; names come of course to be annexed to them, to avoid long periphrafes in things of daily converfation, and fo they become fo many diftinct complex ideas in their minds. Thus ispanioμòs amongst the Greeks, and profcriptio amongst the Romans, were words which other languages had no names that exactly answered, because they ftood for complex ideas, which were not in the minds of the men of other nations. Where there was no fuch cuftom, there was no notion of any such actions; no use of such combinations of ideas as were united, and as it were T 3 in our lanWhy words guage have none anfwering in ano ther. tied tied together by thofe terms; and therefore in other countries there were no names for them. And lan §. 7. Hence alfo we may fee the reafon guages why languages conftantly change, take up change. new, and lay by old terms; because change of customs and opinions bringing with it new combinations of ideas, which it is neceffary frequently to think on, and talk about, new names, to avoid long defcriptions, are annexed to them, and fo they become new fpecies of complex modes. What a number of different ideas are by this means wrapt up in one fhort found, and how much of our time and breath is thereby faved, any one will fee, who will but take the pains to enumerate all the ideas that either reprieve or appeal ftand for; and, instead of either of thofe names, ufe a periphrafis, to make any one understand their meaning. Mixed §. 8. Though I fhall have occafion to confider this more at large, when I come to treat of words and their ufe; yet I could not avoid to take thus much notice here of the names of mixed modes; which being fleeting and tranfient combinations of fimple ideas, which have but a fhort existence any where but in the minds of men, and there too have no longer any existence, than whilft they are thought on, have not fo much any where the appearance of a conftant and lafting existence, as in their names: which are therefore, in this fort of ideas, very apt to be taken for the ideas themfelves. For if we fhould inquire where the idea of a triumph or apotheofis exifts, it is evident they could neither of them exift altogether any where in the things themfelves, being actions that required time to their performance, and fo could never all exift together: and as to the minds of men, where the ideas of thefe actions" are fuppofed to be lodged, they have there too a very uncertain exiftence; and therefore we are apt to annex them to the names that excite them in us. How we get the ideas of mixed modes. §. 9. There are therefore three ways whereby we get the complex ideas of mixed modes. 1. By experience and obfervation of things themfelves. Thus by feeing two men men wrestle or fence, we get the idea of wrestling or fencing. 2. By invention, or voluntary putting together of feveral fimple ideas in our own minds: fo he that first invented printing, or etching, had an idea of it in his mind before it ever exifted. 3. Which is. the most usual way, by explaining the names of actions we never faw, or notions we cannot fee; and by enumerating, and thereby, as it were, fetting before our imaginations all thofe ideas which go to the making. them up, and are the conftituent parts of them. For having by fenfation and reflection ftored our minds with fimple ideas, and by ufe got the names that stand for them, we can by thofe means reprefent to another any complex idea we would have him conceive; fo that it) has in it no fimple ideas, but what he knows, and has with us the same name for. For all our complex ideas are ultimately refolvible into fimple ideas, of which they are compounded and originally made up, though perhaps their immediate ingredients, as I may fo fay, are alfo complex ideas. Thus the mixed mode, which the word lye stands for, is made of thefe fimple ideas: 1. Articulate founds. 2. Certain ideas in the mind of the speaker. 3. Those words the figns of thofe ideas. 4. Thofe figns put together by affirmation or negation,: otherwise than the ideas they ftand for are in the mind of the speaker. I think I need not go any farther in the analysis of that complex idea we call a lye; what I have faid is enough to fhow, that it is made up of fimple ideas and it could not be but an offenfive tediousness to my reader, to trouble him with a more minute enumeration of every particular fimple idea, that goes to this complex one; which, from what has been faid, he cannot but be able to make out to himfelf. The fame may be done in all our complex ideas whatsoever; which, however compounded and decom pounded, may at laft be refolved into fimple ideas, which are all the materials of knowledge or thought we have, or can have. Nor fhall we have reason to fear that the mind is hereby ftinted to too fcanty a number of ideas, if we confider what an inexhaustible ftock of fimple modes, number and figure alone afford I 4 บริ |