登陆注册
5393300000002

第2章 Chapter 2 The Cause of Sense(1)

1. Having declared what I mean by the word conception, and other words equivalent thereunto, I come to the conceptions themselves, to show their difference, their causes, and the manner of their production as far as is necessary for this place.

2. Originally all conceptions proceed from the actions of the thing itself, whereof it is the conception. Now when the action is present, the conception it produceth is called SENSE, and the thing by whose action the same is produced is called the OBJECT of sense.

3. By our several organs we have several conceptions of several qualities in the objects; for by sight we have a conception or image composed of colour or figure, which is all the notice and knowledge the object imparteth to us of its nature by the eye. By hearing we have a conception called sound, which is all the knowledge we have of the quality of the object from the ear. And so the rest of the senses also are conceptions of several qualities, or natures of their objects.

4. Because the image in vision consisting in colour and shape is the knowledge we have of the qualities of the object of that sense; it is no hard matter for a man to fall into this opinion, that the same colour and shape are the very qualities themselves; and for the same cause, that sound and noise are the qualities of the bell, or of the air. And this opinion hath been so long received, that the contrary must needs appear a great paradox; and yet the introduction of species visible and intelligible (which is necessary for the maintenance of that opinion) passing to and fro from the object, is worse than any paradox, as being a plain impossibility. I shall therefore endeavour to make plain these four points:

(1) That the subject wherein colour and image are inherent, is not the object or thing seen.

(2) That that is nothing without us really which we call an image or colour.

(3) That the said image or colour is but an apparition unto us of that motion, agitation, or alteration, which the object worketh in the brain or spirits, or some internal substance of the head.

(4) That as in conception by vision, so also in the conceptions that arise from other senses, the subject of their inherence is not the object, but the sentient.

5. Every man hath so much experience as to have seen the sun and other visible objects by reJection in the water and in glasses, and this alone is sufficient for this conclusion: that colour and image may be there where the thing seen is not. But because it may be said that notwithstanding the image in the water be not in the object, but a thing merely phantastical, yet there may be colour really in the thing itself; I will urge further this experience: that divers times men see directly the same object double, as two candles for one, which may happen by distemper, or otherwise without distemper if a man will, the organs being either in their right temper, or equally distempered. The colours and figures in two such images of the same thing cannot be inherent both therein, because the thing seen cannot be in two places: one of these images thereof is not inherent in the object. But seeing the organs of sight are then in equal temper or equal distemper, the one of them is no more inherent than the other, and consequently neither of them both are in the object; which is the first proposition mentioned in the precedent section.

6. Secondly, that the image of any thing seen by reJection in glass or water or the like, is not any thing in or behind the glass, or in or under the water, every man may prove to himself; which is the second proposition.

同类推荐
  • 画图缘

    画图缘

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 四十二章经

    四十二章经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鲲瀛日记

    鲲瀛日记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 轻重乙

    轻重乙

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 经济汇编食货典户口部

    经济汇编食货典户口部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 题李处士幽居

    题李处士幽居

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 运皇

    运皇

    群山之巅,有人乘龙腾空,扶摇而上。佛堂之上,有人青灯灭尽,诵经悲空。书院之中,有人说尽道理,谈笑成圣。江湖之远,有人杯酒长歌,刀剑纵横。三千红尘,吾亦摇摆而渡。万里山河,吾亦携风而游。那一日,有少年身处山脚,眺望天地大道,心神往之。
  • 日本简史

    日本简史

    《日本简史》以统治主体的演变为主线,从历史和文化的起源、律令国家、武人政权、前近代社会、明治维新、对外侵略与扩张、变革与战争、占领与战后体制、经济大国、转折时期的改革等方面,清晰地勾勒出日本的政治演进过程,兼及不同时期的文化成就、经济发展、大众心态等内容,清晰、完整地绘制出日本历史的鸟瞰式全貌。《日本简史(增订版)》曾荣获“北京高等教育精品教材奖”。新版除吸收学界最新研究成果外,又增补了大量插图、原始史料、进一步阅读书目,大事年表等,以帮助读者更好地把握日本历史的线索和脉络。
  • 怎样延长你的寿命

    怎样延长你的寿命

    书中内容涉及生物学、昆虫学、解剖学、微生物学、生理学、医学、美食学、历史学、文学,讲解深入浅出,所提供的养生方法简单易用。因此,对许多读者而言,本书又是一本养生书,书中对影响寿命的因素及如何延长寿命这个问题进行了精辟的分析,并提供了延长寿命的方法,而这些方法操作简单,对读者大有益处。 本书虽然为研究性著作,然而论断精辟,文风简练,语言流畅。正是如此,编者才敢将这盘佳肴精细加工,以飨读者。全书包括老年的研究,动物的寿命,自然死亡的研究,以及人类的寿命能延长吗?四个章节。每个章节都围绕主题进行深入的探讨与分析,从生命的本质上为读者解释养生和长寿的秘诀。
  • 清醒的老子,浪漫的庄子:达观自如的人生智慧

    清醒的老子,浪漫的庄子:达观自如的人生智慧

    从老子的哲学中,我们可以学习老子看世界的眼光;从庄子的哲学中,我们可以学习庄子浪漫的人生态度。希望张莉、陆杰编写的这本《清醒的老子,浪漫的庄子:达观自如的人生智慧》能够让读者窥到实现这两方面愿望的路径,对道家智慧有更为深刻的了解和体悟,希望它能成为一阵清风,为忙碌、紧张、疲惫的人送去些许清凉。
  • 重生之一品皇商

    重生之一品皇商

    苏凌前世被情蒙蔽,轻信于人,甘愿放下自尊嫁人为妾,只为呆在他身边为其谋求天下。功成名就时,心爱之人竟狠心算计,毁她清誉,夺她亲儿,让她不得好死。时光回溯,她重生及笄之年,小心算计步步为营,不仅将前世悲剧逆转血刃仇人,更成了不可一世的倾世皇商,却岂料被那看似纯良实则腹黑的十一皇子盯上了。陈熙——王妃之位与皇商之职相比如何?苏凌——虽为皇亲国戚锦衣玉食,却不如我当下快活自在。陈熙——那要是天下为媒,江山为聘,定要娶你为妻呢?苏凌——若是娶我的人是你,一生一世只爱我一人即可。
  • 虚界求生

    虚界求生

    再一次醒来,李锐发现身边的一切都发生了改变,陌生的街道,陌生的穿着。还没来得及醒神,莫名的追杀就已经到来,被迫无奈之下逃命,在一条小巷被神秘老人收留,从此过上了修炼生活。莫名的穿越曾让我有过无比的畏惧,可日日夜夜走过来。异常强悍的自我再也不会害怕面对任何事情。有些秘密,注定沉入大海被大家遗忘,可我“天选者”终将再次泛起历史浪花,平定者虚界之乱!——李锐
  • 修仙女帝倾三界

    修仙女帝倾三界

    她是紫灵族尊贵的公主殿下,身负血海深仇,更是傲视三界的女帝大人玄九天;她对抗神界,敢冒天下之大不韪。她凭一己之力倾三界,可她却差点错过最好的他,这注定是一场夹杂着复仇的爱情,渺渺天宇,三界之内外,她在为谁痛彻心扉,寻觅着谁的身影,曾经搁浅在记忆里的那抹最美的回忆,是否早已被复仇湮没······
  • 数字风暴

    数字风暴

    战争是大时代最辉煌富丽的舞台,只有真正强大的人才能成为主角。 一脚被踹进了战争漩涡的林闻方,坚信自己能活下去,坚信自己能收获更多。最大的依仗就是:他不是一个人。一个强大的人工智能,就在他的电脑里。 他能够掌控网络、掌控这个时代无处不在的数字世界。 他能够拨开战争的阴云,去为自己和战友夺取胜利。 他能够化腐朽为神奇,让各种奇思妙想兑现成现实。 他能够洞察人心,让朋友温暖,让情人安然,让敌人胆寒…… 他是林闻方,一个工程师,一个战士,一个坚决不做看客的勇者!
  • 大秦战魂

    大秦战魂

    战者,生命不息,战斗不止。一生杀伐,只为了君王的兄弟之情,君臣之义。蒙家,秦始皇麾下忠信之家;蒙恬,大秦之战魂,为秦始皇打下天下,随后驻守秦国北疆,长城外镇压匈奴不敢来犯。一生无敌,最后却败在了一个宦官之手……