第1章

LORDTHOMAS，EARLOFPEMBROKEANDMONTGOMERY，BARRONHERBERTOFCARDIFF，LORDROSS，OFKENDAL，PAR，FITZHUGH，MARMION，ST。QUINTIN，ANDSHURLAND；LORDPRESIDENTOFHISMAJESTY’SMOST

HONOURABLEPRIVYCOUNCIL；ANDLORDLIEUTENANTOF

THECOUNTYOFWILTS，ANDOFSOUTHWALES。

MYLORD，THISTreatise，whichisgrownupunderyourlordship’seye，andhasventuredintotheworldbyyourorder，doesnow，byanaturalkindofright，cometoyourlordshipforthatprotectionwhichyouseveralyearssincepromisedit。ItisnotthatIthinkanyname，howgreatsoever，setatthebeginningofabook，willbeabletocoverthefaultsthataretobefoundinit。Thingsinprintmuststandandfallbytheirownworth，orthereader’sfancy。Buttherebeingnothingmoretobedesiredfortruththanafairunprejudicedhearing，nobodyismorelikelytoprocuremethatthanyourlordship，whoareallowedtohavegotsointimateanacquaintancewithher，inhermoreretiredrecesses。Yourlordshipisknowntohavesofaradvancedyourspeculationsinthemostabstractandgeneralknowledgeofthings，beyondtheordinaryreachorcommonmethods，thatyourallowanceandapprobationofthedesignofthisTreatisewillatleastpreserveitfrombeingcondemnedwithoutreading，andwillprevailtohavethosepartsalittleweighted，whichmightotherwiseperhapsbethoughttodeservenoconsideration，forbeingsomewhatoutofthecommonroad。TheimputationofNoveltyisaterriblechargeamongstthosewhojudgeofmen’sheads，astheydooftheirperukes，bythefashion，andcanallownonetoberightbutthereceiveddoctrines。Truthscarceeveryetcarrieditbyvoteanywhereatitsfirstappearance:newopinionsarealwayssuspected，andusuallyopposed，withoutanyotherreasonbutbecausetheyarenotalreadycommon。Buttruth，likegold，isnotthelesssoforbeingnewlybroughtoutofthemine。Itistrialandexaminationmustgiveitprice，andnotanyantiquefashion；andthoughitbenotyetcurrentbythepublicstamp，yetitmay，forallthat，beasoldasnature，andiscertainlynotthelessgenuine。Yourlordshipcangivegreatandconvincinginstancesofthis，wheneveryoupleasetoobligethepublicwithsomeofthoselargeandcomprehensivediscoveriesyouhavemadeoftruthshithertounknown，unlesstosomefew，fromwhomyourlordshiphasbeenpleasednotwhollytoconcealthem。Thisalonewereasufficientreason，weretherenoother，whyIshoulddedicatethisEssaytoyourlordship；anditshavingsomelittlecorrespondencewithsomepartsofthatnoblerandvastsystemofthesciencesyourlordshiphasmadesonew，exact，andinstructiveadraughtof，Ithinkitgloryenough，ifyourlordshippermitmetoboast，thathereandthereIhavefallenintosomethoughtsnotwhollydifferentfromyours。Ifyourlordshipthinkfitthat，byyourencouragement，thisshouldappearintheworld，Ihopeitmaybeareason，sometimeorother，toleadyourlordshipfurther；andyouwillallowmetosay，thatyouheregivetheworldanearnestofsomethingthat，iftheycanbearwiththis，willbetrulyworththeirexpectation。This，mylord，showswhatapresentIheremaketoyourlordship；justsuchasthepoormandoestohisrichandgreatneighbour，bywhomthebasketofflowersorfruitisnotilltaken，thoughhehasmoreplentyofhisowngrowth，andinmuchgreaterperfection。Worthlessthingsreceiveavaluewhentheyaremadetheofferingsofrespect，esteem，andgratitude:theseyouhavegivenmesomightyandpeculiarreasonstohave，inthehighestdegree，foryourlordship，thatiftheycanaddapricetowhattheygoalongwith，proportionabletotheirowngreatness，Icanwithconfidencebrag，Iheremakeyourlordshiptherichestpresentyoueverreceived。ThisIamsure，IamunderthegreatestobligationstoseekalloccasionstoacknowledgealongtrainoffavoursIhavereceivedfromyourlordship；favours，thoughgreatandimportantinthemselves，yetmademuchmoresobytheforwardness，concern，andkindness，andotherobligingcircumstances，thatneverfailedtoaccompanythem。Toallthisyouarepleasedtoaddthatwhichgivesyetmoreweightandrelishtoalltherest:youvouchsafetocontinuemeinsomedegreesofyouresteem，andallowmeaplaceinyourgoodthoughts，Ihadalmostsaidfriendship。This，mylord，yourwordsandactionssoconstantlyshowonalloccasions，eventootherswhenIamabsent，thatitisnotvanityinmetomentionwhateverybodyknows:butitwouldbewantofgoodmannersnottoacknowledgewhatsomanyarewitnessesof，andeverydaytellmeIamindebtedtoyourlordshipfor。Iwishtheycouldaseasilyassistmygratitude，astheyconvincemeofthegreatandgrowingengagementsithastoyourlordship。ThisIamsure，IshouldwriteoftheUnderstandingwithouthavingany，ifIwerenotextremelysensibleofthem，anddidnotlayholdonthisopportunitytotestifytotheworldhowmuchIamobligedtobe，andhowmuchIam，MYLORD，YourLordship’smosthumbleandmostobedientservant，JOHNLOCKE

DorsetCourt，24thofMay，1689

EPISTLETOTHEREADER

IHAVEputintothyhandswhathasbeenthediversionofsomeofmyidleandheavyhours。Ifithasthegoodlucktoprovesoofanyofthine，andthouhastbuthalfsomuchpleasureinreadingasIhadinwritingit，thouwiltaslittlethinkthymoney，asIdomypains，illbestowed。Mistakenotthisforacommendationofmywork；

norconclude，becauseIwaspleasedwiththedoingofit，thatthereforeIamfondlytakenwithitnowitisdone。Hethathawksatlarksandsparrowshasnolesssport，thoughamuchlessconsiderablequarry，thanhethatfliesatnoblergame:andheislittleacquaintedwiththesubjectofthistreatise-theUNDERSTANDING-whodoesnotknowthat，asitisthemostelevatedfacultyofthesoul，soitisemployedwithagreaterandmoreconstantdelightthananyoftheother。Itssearchesaftertruthareasortofhawkingandhunting，whereintheverypursuitmakesagreatpartofthepleasure。EverystepthemindtakesinitsprogresstowardsKnowledgemakessomediscovery，whichisnotonlynew，butthebesttoo，forthetimeatleast。

Fortheunderstanding，liketheeye，judgingofobjectsonlybyitsownsight，cannotbutbepleasedwithwhatitdiscovers，havinglessregretforwhathasescapedit，becauseitisunknown。Thushewhohasraisedhimselfabovethealms-basket，and，notcontenttolivelazilyonscrapsofbeggedopinions，setshisownthoughtsonwork，tofindandfollowtruth，will(whateverhelightson)notmissthehunter’ssatisfaction；everymomentofhispursuitwillrewardhispainswithsomedelight；andhewillhavereasontothinkhistimenotillspent，evenwhenhecannotmuchboastofanygreatacquisition。

This，Reader，istheentertainmentofthosewholetloosetheirownthoughts，andfollowtheminwriting；whichthououghtestnottoenvythem，sincetheyaffordtheeanopportunityofthelikediversion，ifthouwiltmakeuseofthyownthoughtsinreading。Itistothem，iftheyarethyown，thatIrefermyself:butiftheyaretakenupontrustfromothers，itisnogreatmatterwhattheyare；

theyarenotfollowingtruth，butsomemeanerconsideration；anditisnotworthwhiletobeconcernedwhathesaysorthinks，whosaysorthinksonlyasheisdirectedbyanother。IfthoujudgestforthyselfIknowthouwiltjudgecandidly，andthenIshallnotbeharmedoroffended，whateverbethycensure。ForthoughitbecertainthatthereisnothinginthisTreatiseofthetruthwhereofIamnotfullypersuaded，yetIconsidermyselfasliabletomistakesasIcanthinkthee，andknowthatthisbookmuststandorfallwiththee，notbyanyopinionIhaveofit，butthyown。Ifthoufindestlittleinitneworinstructivetothee，thouartnottoblamemeforit。Itwasnotmeantforthosethathadalreadymasteredthissubject，andmadeathoroughacquaintancewiththeirownunderstandings；butformyowninformation，andthesatisfactionofafewfriends，whoacknowledgedthemselvesnottohavesufficientlyconsideredit。

WereitfittotroubletheewiththehistoryofthisEssay，Ishouldtellthee，thatfiveorsixfriendsmeetingatmychamber，anddiscoursingonasubjectveryremotefromthis，foundthemselvesquicklyatastand，bythedifficultiesthatroseoneveryside。Afterwehadawhilepuzzledourselves，withoutcominganyneareraresolutionofthosedoubtswhichperplexedus，itcameintomythoughtsthatwetookawrongcourse；andthatbeforewesetourselvesuponinquiriesofthatnature，itwasnecessarytoexamineourownabilities，andseewhatobjectsourunderstandingswere，orwerenot，fittedtodealwith。ThisIproposedtothecompany，whoallreadilyassented；andthereuponitwasagreedthatthisshouldbeourfirstinquiry。Somehastyandundigestedthoughts，onasubjectIhadneverbeforeconsidered，whichIsetdownagainstournextmeeting，gavethefirstentranceintothisDiscourse；whichhavingbeenthusbegunbychance，wascontinuedbyintreaty；writtenbyincoherentparcels；andafterlongintervalsofneglect，resumedagain，asmyhumouroroccasionspermitted；andatlast，inaretirementwhereanattendanceonmyhealthgavemeleisure，itwasbroughtintothatorderthounowseestit。

Thisdiscontinuedwayofwritingmayhaveoccasioned，besidesothers，twocontraryfaults，viz。，thattoolittleandtoomuchmaybesaidinit。Ifthoufindestanythingwanting，IshallbegladthatwhatIhavewrittengivestheeanydesirethatIshouldhavegonefurther。Ifitseemstoomuchtothee，thoumustblamethesubject；

forwhenIputpentopaper，IthoughtallIshouldhavetosayonthismatterwouldhavebeencontainedinonesheetofpaper；butthefurtherIwentthelargerprospectIhad；newdiscoveriesledmestillon，andsoitgrewinsensiblytothebulkitnowappearsin。Iwillnotdeny，butpossiblyitmightbereducedtoanarrowercompassthanitis，andthatsomepartsofitmightbecontracted，thewayithasbeenwritin，bycatches，andmanylongintervalsofinterruption，beingapttocausesomerepetitions。Buttoconfessthetruth，Iamnowtoolazy，ortoobusy，tomakeitshorter。

IamnotignoranthowlittleIhereinconsultmyownreputation，whenIknowinglyletitgowithafault，soapttodisgustthemostjudicious，whoarealwaysthenicestreaders。Buttheywhoknowslothisapttocontentitselfwithanyexcuse，willpardonmeifminehasprevailedonme，whereIthinkIhaveaverygoodone。Iwillnotthereforeallegeinmydefence，thatthesamenotion，havingdifferentrespects，maybeconvenientornecessarytoproveorillustrateseveralpartsofthesamediscourse，andthatsoithashappenedinmanypartsofthis:butwaivingthat，IshallfranklyavowthatIhavesometimesdweltlonguponthesameargument，andexpresseditdifferentways，withaquitedifferentdesign。IpretendnottopublishthisEssayfortheinformationofmenoflargethoughtsandquickapprehensions；tosuchmastersofknowledgeIprofessmyselfascholar，andthereforewarnthembeforehandnottoexpectanythinghere，butwhat，beingspunoutofmyowncoarsethoughts，isfittedtomenofmyownsize，towhom，perhaps，itwillnotbeunacceptablethatIhavetakensomepainstomakeplainandfamiliartotheirthoughtssometruthswhichestablishedprejudice，ortheabstractednessoftheideasthemselves，mightrenderdifficult。Someobjectshadneedbeturnedoneveryside；andwhenthenotionisnew，asIconfesssomeofthesearetome；oroutoftheordinaryroad，asIsuspecttheywillappeartoothers，itisnotonesimpleviewofitthatwillgainitadmittanceintoeveryunderstanding，orfixittherewithaclearandlastingimpression。Therearefew，Ibelieve，whohavenotobservedinthemselvesorothers，thatwhatinonewayofproposingwasveryobscure，anotherwayofexpressingithasmadeveryclearandintelligible；thoughafterwardsthemindfoundlittledifferenceinthephrases，andwonderedwhyonefailedtobeunderstoodmorethantheother。Buteverythingdoesnothitalikeuponeveryman’simagination。Wehaveourunderstandingsnolessdifferentthanourpalates；andhethatthinksthesametruthshallbeequallyrelishedbyeveryoneinthesamedress，mayaswellhopetofeasteveryonewiththesamesortofcookery:themeatmaybethesame，andthenourishmentgood，yeteveryonenotbeabletoreceiveitwiththatseasoning；anditmustbedressedanotherway，ifyouwillhaveitgodownwithsome，evenofstrongconstitutions。Thetruthis，thosewhoadvisedmetopublishit，advisedme，forthisreason，topublishitasitis:andsinceIhavebeenbroughttoletitgoabroad，Idesireitshouldbeunderstoodbywhoevergiveshimselfthepainstoreadit。Ihavesolittleaffectiontobeinprint，thatifIwerenotflatteredthisEssaymightbeofsomeusetoothers，asIthinkithasbeentome，Ishouldhaveconfinedittotheviewofsomefriends，whogavethefirstoccasiontoit。MyappearingthereforeinprintbeingonpurposetobeasusefulasI

may，IthinkitnecessarytomakewhatIhavetosayaseasyandintelligibletoallsortsofreadersasIcan。AndIhadmuchratherthespeculativeandquick-sightedshouldcomplainofmybeinginsomepartstedious，thanthatanyone，notaccustomedtoabstractspeculations，orprepossessedwithdifferentnotions，shouldmistakeornotcomprehendmymeaning。

Itwillpossiblybecensuredasagreatpieceofvanityorinsolenceinme，topretendtoinstructthisourknowingage；itamountingtolittleless，whenIown，thatIpublishthisEssaywithhopesitmaybeusefultoothers。But，ifitmaybepermittedtospeakfreelyofthosewhowithafeignedmodestycondemnasuselesswhattheythemselveswrite，methinksitsavoursmuchmoreofvanityorinsolencetopublishabookforanyotherend；andhefailsverymuchofthatrespectheowesthepublic，whoprints，andconsequentlyexpectsmenshouldread，thatwhereinheintendsnottheyshouldmeetwithanythingofusetothemselvesorothers:andshouldnothingelsebefoundallowableinthisTreatise，yetmydesignwillnotceasetobeso；andthegoodnessofmyintentionoughttobesomeexcusefortheworthlessnessofmypresent。Itisthatchieflywhichsecuresmefromthefearofcensure，whichIexpectnottoescapemorethanbetterwriters。Men’sprinciples，notions，andrelishesaresodifferent，thatitishardtofindabookwhichpleasesordispleasesallmen。Iacknowledgetheageweliveinisnottheleastknowing，andthereforenotthemosteasytobesatisfied。IfI

havenotthegoodlucktoplease，yetnobodyoughttobeoffendedwithme。Iplainlytellallmyreaders，excepthalfadozen，thisTreatisewasnotatfirstintendedforthem；andthereforetheyneednotbeatthetroubletobeofthatnumber。Butyetifanyonethinksfittobeangryandrailatit，hemaydoitsecurely，forI

shallfindsomebetterwayofspendingmytimethaninsuchkindofconversation。Ishallalwayshavethesatisfactiontohaveaimedsincerelyattruthandusefulness，thoughinoneofthemeanestways。Thecommonwealthoflearningisnotatthistimewithoutmaster-builders，whosemightydesigns，inadvancingthesciences，willleavelastingmonumentstotheadmirationofposterity:buteveryonemustnothopetobeaBoyleoraSydenham；andinanagethatproducessuchmastersasthegreatHuygeniusandtheincomparableMr。Newton，withsomeothersofthatstrain，itisambitionenoughtobeemployedasanunder-labourerinclearingthegroundalittle，andremovingsomeoftherubbishthatliesinthewaytoknowledge；-

whichcertainlyhadbeenverymuchmoreadvancedintheworld，iftheendeavoursofingeniousandindustriousmenhadnotbeenmuchcumberedwiththelearnedbutfrivoloususeofuncouth，affected，orunintelligibleterms，introducedintothesciences，andtheremadeanartof，tothatdegreethatPhilosophy，whichisnothingbutthetrueknowledgeofthings，wasthoughtunfitorincapabletobebroughtintowell-bredcompanyandpoliteconversation。Vagueandinsignificantformsofspeech，andabuseoflanguage，havesolongpassedformysteriesofscience；andhardandmisappliedwords，withlittleornomeaning，have，byprescription，sucharighttobemistakenfordeeplearningandheightofspeculation，thatitwillnotbeeasytopersuadeeitherthosewhospeakorthosewhohearthem，thattheyarebutthecoversofignorance，andhindranceoftrueknowledge。Tobreakinuponthesanctuaryofvanityandignorancewillbe，Isuppose，someservicetohumanunderstanding；thoughsofewareapttothinktheydeceiveoraredeceivedintheuseofwords；

orthatthelanguageofthesecttheyareofhasanyfaultsinitwhichoughttobeexaminedorcorrected，thatIhopeIshallbepardonedifIhaveintheThirdBookdweltlongonthissubject，andendeavouredtomakeitsoplain，thatneithertheinveteratenessofthemischief，northeprevalencyofthefashion，shallbeanyexcuseforthosewhowillnottakecareaboutthemeaningoftheirownwords，andwillnotsufferthesignificancyoftheirexpressionstobeinquiredinto。

IhavebeentoldthatashortEpitomeofthisTreatise，whichwasprintedin1688，wasbysomecondemnedwithoutreading，becauseinnateideasweredeniedinit；theytoohastilyconcluding，thatifinnateideaswerenotsupposed，therewouldbelittlelefteitherofthenotionorproofofspirits。IfanyonetakethelikeoffenceattheentranceofthisTreatise，Ishalldesirehimtoreaditthrough；

andthenIhopehewillbeconvinced，thatthetakingawayfalsefoundationsisnottotheprejudicebutadvantageoftruth，whichisneverinjuredorendangeredsomuchaswhenmixedwith，orbuilton，falsehood。

IntheSecondEditionIaddedasfolloweth:-

ThebooksellerwillnotforgivemeifIsaynothingofthisNewEdition，whichhehaspromised，bythecorrectnessofit，shallmakeamendsforthemanyfaultscommittedintheformer。Hedesirestoo，thatitshouldbeknownthatithasonewholenewchapterconcerningIdentity，andmanyadditionsandamendmentsinotherplaces。TheseI

mustinformmyreaderarenotallnewmatter，butmostofthemeitherfurtherconfirmationofwhatIhadsaid，orexplications，topreventothersbeingmistakeninthesenseofwhatwasformerlyprinted，andnotanyvariationinmefromit。

ImustonlyexceptthealterationsIhavemadeinBookII。chap。

xxi。

WhatIhadtherewrittenconcerningLibertyandtheWill，I

thoughtdeservedasaccurateaviewasIamcapableof；thosesubjectshavinginallagesexercisedthelearnedpartoftheworldwithquestionsanddifficulties，thathavenotalittleperplexedmoralityanddivinity，thosepartsofknowledgethatmenaremostconcernedtobeclearin。Uponacloserinspectionintotheworkingofmen’sminds，andastricterexaminationofthosemotivesandviewstheyareturnedby，IhavefoundreasonsomewhattoalterthethoughtsIformerlyhadconcerningthatwhichgivesthelastdeterminationtotheWillinallvoluntaryactions。ThisIcannotforbeartoacknowledgetotheworldwithasmuchfreedomandreadinessasIatfirstpublishedwhatthenseemedtometoberight；thinkingmyselfmoreconcernedtoquitandrenounceanyopinionofmyown，thanopposethatofanother，whentruthappearsagainstit。ForitistruthaloneIseek，andthatwillalwaysbewelcometome，whenorfromwhencesoeveritcomes。

ButwhatforwardnesssoeverIhavetoresignanyopinionIhave，ortorecedefromanythingIhavewrit，uponthefirstevidenceofanyerrorinit；yetthisImustown，thatIhavenothadthegoodlucktoreceiveanylightfromthoseexceptionsIhavemetwithinprintagainstanypartofmybook，norhave，fromanythingthathasbeenurgedagainstit，foundreasontoaltermysenseinanyofthepointsthathavebeenquestioned。WhetherthesubjectIhaveinhandrequiresoftenmorethoughtandattentionthancursoryreaders，atleastsuchasareprepossessed，arewillingtoallow；orwhetheranyobscurityinmyexpressionscastsacloudoverit，andthesenotionsaremadedifficulttoothers’apprehensionsinmywayoftreatingthem；soitis，thatmymeaning，Ifind，isoftenmistaken，andIhavenotthegoodlucktobeeverywhererightlyunderstood。

OfthistheingeniousauthoroftheDiscourseConcerningtheNatureofManhasgivenmealateinstance，tomentionnoother。Forthecivilityofhisexpressions，andthecandourthatbelongstohisorder，forbidmetothinkthathewouldhaveclosedhisPrefacewithaninsinuation，asifinwhatIhadsaid，BookII。ch。xxvii，concerningthethirdrulewhichmenrefertheiractionsto，Iwentabouttomakevirtueviceandvicevirtueunlesshehadmistakenmymeaning；whichhecouldnothavedoneifhehadgivenhimselfthetroubletoconsiderwhattheargumentwasIwasthenupon，andwhatwasthechiefdesignofthatchapter，plainlyenoughsetdowninthefourthsectionandthosefollowing。ForIwastherenotlayingdownmoralrules，butshowingtheoriginalandnatureofmoralideas，andenumeratingtherulesmenmakeuseofinmoralrelations，whethertheserulesweretrueorfalse:andpursuanttheretoItellwhatiseverywherecalledvirtueandvice；which"altersnotthenatureofthings，"thoughmengenerallydojudgeofanddenominatetheiractionsaccordingtotheesteemandfashionoftheplaceandsecttheyareof。

IfhehadbeenatthepainstoreflectonwhatIhadsaid，Bk。I。

ch。ii。sect。18，andBk。II。ch。xxviii。sects。13，14，15and20，hewouldhaveknownwhatIthinkoftheeternalandunalterablenatureofrightandwrong，andwhatIcallvirtueandvice。AndifhehadobservedthatintheplacehequotesIonlyreportasamatteroffactwhatotherscallvirtueandvice，hewouldnothavefounditliabletoanygreatexception。ForIthinkIamnotmuchoutinsayingthatoneoftherulesmadeuseofintheworldforagroundormeasureofamoralrelationis-thatesteemandreputationwhichseveralsortsofactionsfindvariouslyintheseveralsocietiesofmen，accordingtowhichtheyaretherecalledvirtuesorvices。AndwhateverauthoritythelearnedMr。LowdeplacesinhisOldEnglishDictionary，I

daresayitnowheretellshim(ifIshouldappealtoit)thatthesameactionisnotincredit，calledandcountedavirtue，inoneplace，which，beingindisrepute，passesforandunderthenameofviceinanother。Thetakingnoticethatmenbestowthenamesof"virtue"and"vice"accordingtothisruleofReputationisallIhavedone，orcanbelaidtomychargetohavedone，towardsthemakingvicevirtueorvirtuevice。Butthegoodmandoeswell，andasbecomeshiscalling，tobewatchfulinsuchpoints，andtotakethealarmevenatexpressions，which，standingalonebythemselves，mightsoundillandbesuspected。

’Tistothiszeal，allowableinhisfunction，thatIforgivehiscitingashedoesthesewordsofmine(ch。xxviii。sect。II):"Eventheexhortationsofinspiredteachershavenotfearedtoappealtocommonrepute，Philip。iv。8"；withouttakingnoticeofthoseimmediatelypreceding，whichintroducethem，andrunthus:"Wherebyeveninthecorruptionofmanners，thetrueboundariesofthelawofnature，whichoughttobetheruleofvirtueandvice，wereprettywellpreserved。Sothateventheexhortationsofinspiredteachers，"

&c。Bywhichwords，andtherestofthatsection，itisplainthatI

broughtthatpassageofSt。Paul，nottoprovethatthegeneralmeasureofwhatmencalledvirtueandvicethroughouttheworldwas，thereputationandfashionofeachparticularsocietywithinitself；

buttoshowthat，thoughitwereso，yet，forreasonsItheregive，men，inthatwayofdenominatingtheiractions，didnotforthemostpartmuchstrayfromtheLawofNature；whichisthatstandingandunalterablerulebywhichtheyoughttojudgeofthemoralrectitudeandgravityoftheiractions，andaccordinglydenominatethemvirtuesorvices。HadMr。Lowdeconsideredthis，hewouldhavefounditlittletohispurposetohavequotedthispassageinasenseIuseditnot；andwouldIimaginehavesparedtheapplicationhesubjoinstoit，asnotverynecessary。ButIhopethisSecondEditionwillgivehimsatisfactiononthepoint，andthatthismatterisnowsoexpressedastoshowhimtherewasnocauseforscruple。

ThoughIamforcedtodifferfromhimintheseapprehensionshehasexpressed，inthelatterendofhispreface，concerningwhatIhadsaidaboutvirtueandvice，yetwearebetteragreedthanhethinksinwhathesaysinhisthirdchapter(p。78)concerning"naturalinscriptionandinnatenotions。"Ishallnotdenyhimtheprivilegeheclaims(p。52)，tostatethequestionashepleases，especiallywhenhestatesitsoastoleavenothinginitcontrarytowhatIhavesaid。For，accordingtohim，"innatenotions，beingconditionalthings，dependingupontheconcurrenceofseveralothercircumstancesinordertothesoul’sexertingthem，"allthathesaysfor"innate，imprinted，impressednotions"(forofinnateideashesaysnothingatall)，amountsatlastonlytothis-thattherearecertainpropositionswhich，thoughthesoulfromthebeginning，orwhenamanisborn，doesnotknow，yet"byassistancefromtheoutwardsenses，andthehelpofsomepreviouscultivation，"itmayafterwardscomecertainlytoknowthetruthof；whichisnomorethanwhatIhaveaffirmedinmyFirstBook。ForIsupposebythe"soul’sexertingthem，"hemeansitsbeginningtoknowthem；orelsethesoul’s"exertingofnotions"willbetomeaveryunintelligibleexpression；andIthinkatbestisaveryunfitoneinthis，itmisleadingmen’sthoughtsbyaninsinuation，asifthesenotionswereinthemindbeforethe"soulexertsthem，"i。e。beforetheyareknown；-whereastrulybeforetheyareknown，thereisnothingoftheminthemindbutacapacitytoknowthem，whenthe"concurrenceofthosecircumstances，"whichthisingeniousauthorthinksnecessary"inordertothesoul’sexertingthem，"bringsthemintoourknowledge。

P。52Ifindhimexpressitthus:"Thesenaturalnotionsarenotsoimprinteduponthesoulasthattheynaturallyandnecessarilyexertthemselves(eveninchildrenandidiots)withoutanyassistancefromtheoutwardsenses，orwithoutthehelpofsomepreviouscultivation。"Here，hesays，theyexertthemselves，asp。78，thatthe"soulexertsthem。"Whenhehasexplainedtohimselforotherswhathemeansby"thesoul’sexertinginnatenotions，"ortheir"exertingthemselves"；andwhatthat"previouscultivationandcircumstances"inordertotheirbeingexertedare-hewillI

supposefindthereissolittleofcontroversybetweenhimandmeonthepoint，batingthathecallsthat"exertingofnotions"whichI

inamorevulgarstylecall"knowing，"thatIhavereasontothinkhebroughtinmynameonthisoccasiononlyoutofthepleasurehehastospeakcivillyofme；whichImustgratefullyacknowledgehehasdoneeverywherehementionsme，notwithoutconferringonme，assomeothershavedone，atitleIhavenorightto。

Therearesomanyinstancesofthis，thatIthinkitjusticetomyreaderandmyselftoconclude，thateithermybookisplainlyenoughwrittentoberightlyunderstoodbythosewhoperuseitwiththatattentionandindifferency，whicheveryonewhowillgivehimselfthepainstoreadoughttoemployinreading；orelsethatIhavewrittenminesoobscurelythatitisinvaintogoabouttomendit。

Whicheverofthesebethetruth，itismyselfonlyamaffectedthereby；andthereforeIshallbefarfromtroublingmyreaderwithwhatIthinkmightbesaidinanswertothoseseveralobjectionsI

havemetwith，topassageshereandthereofmybook；sinceIpersuademyselfthathewhothinksthemofmomentenoughtobeconcernedwhethertheyaretrueorfalse，willbeabletoseethatwhatissaidiseithernotwellfounded，orelsenotcontrarytomydoctrine，whenIandmyopposercomebothtobewellunderstood。

Ifanyotherauthors，carefulthatnoneoftheirgoodthoughtsshouldbelost，havepublishedtheircensuresofmyEssay，withthishonourdonetoit，thattheywillnotsufferittobeanessay，I

leaveittothepublictovaluetheobligationtheyhavetotheircriticalpens，andshallnotwastemyreader’stimeinsoidleorill-naturedanemploymentofmine，astolessenthesatisfactionanyonehasinhimself，orgivestoothers，insohastyaconfutationofwhatIhavewritten。

ThebooksellerspreparingfortheFourthEditionofmyEssay，gavemenoticeofit，thatImight，ifIhadleisure，makeanyadditionsoralterationsIshouldthinkfit。WhereuponIthoughtitconvenienttoadvertisethereader，thatbesidesseveralcorrectionsIhadmadehereandthere，therewasonealterationwhichitwasnecessarytomention，becauseitranthroughthewholebook，andisofconsequencetoberightlyunderstood。WhatIthereuponsaidwasthis:-

Clearanddistinctideasaretermswhich，thoughfamiliarandfrequentinmen’smouths，Ihavereasontothinkeveryonewhousesdoesnotperfectlyunderstand。Andpossibly’tisbuthereandthereonewhogiveshimselfthetroubletoconsiderthemsofarastoknowwhathehimselforotherspreciselymeanbythem。Ihavethereforeinmostplaceschosetoputdeterminateordetermined，insteadofclearanddistinct，asmorelikelytodirectmen’sthoughtstomymeaninginthismatter。Bythosedenominations，Imeansomeobjectinthemind，andconsequentlydetermined，i。e。suchasitisthereseenandperceivedtobe。This，Ithink，mayfitlybecalledadeterminateordeterminedidea，whensuchasitisatanytimeobjectivelyinthemind，andsodeterminedthere，itisannexed，andwithoutvariationdetermined，toanameorarticulatesound，whichistobesteadilythesignofthatverysameobjectofthemind，ordeterminateidea。

Toexplainthisalittlemoreparticularly。Bydeterminate，whenappliedtoasimpleidea，Imeanthatsimpleappearancewhichthemindhasinitsview，orperceivesinitself，whenthatideaissaidtobeinit:bydetermined，whenappliedtoacomplexidea，Imeansuchanoneasconsistsofadeterminatenumberofcertainsimpleorlesscomplexideas，joinedinsuchaproportionandsituationasthemindhasbeforeitsview，andseesinitself，whenthatideaispresentinit，orshouldbepresentinit，whenamangivesanametoit。I

sayshouldbe，becauseitisnoteveryone，norperhapsanyone，whoissocarefulofhislanguageastousenowordtillheviewsinhismindtheprecisedeterminedideawhichheresolvestomakeitthesignofThewantofthisisthecauseofnosmallobscurityandconfusioninmen’sthoughtsanddiscourses。

Iknowtherearenotwordsenoughinanylanguagetoanswerallthevarietyofideasthatenterintomen’sdiscoursesandreasonings。Butthishindersnotbutthatwhenanyoneusesanyterm，hemayhaveinhismindadeterminedidea，whichhemakesitthesignof，andtowhichheshouldkeepitsteadilyannexedduringthatpresentdiscourse。Wherehedoesnot，orcannotdothis，heinvainpretendstoclearordistinctideas:itisplainhisarenotso；andthereforetherecanbeexpectednothingbutobscurityandconfusion，wheresuchtermsaremadeuseofwhichhavenotsuchaprecisedetermination。

UponthisgroundIhavethoughtdeterminedideasawayofspeakinglessliabletomistakes，thanclearanddistinct:andwheremenhavegotsuchdeterminedideasofallthattheyreason，inquire，orargueabout，theywillfindagreatpartoftheirdoubtsanddisputesatanend；thegreatestpartofthequestionsandcontroversiesthatperplexmankinddependingonthedoubtfulanduncertainuseofwords，or(whichisthesame)indeterminedideas，whichtheyaremadetostandfor。Ihavemadechoiceofthesetermstosignify，(1)

Someimmediateobjectofthemind，whichitperceivesandhasbeforeit，distinctfromthesounditusesasasignofit。(2)Thatthisidea，thusdetermined，i。e。whichthemindhasinitself，andknows，andseesthere，bedeterminedwithoutanychangetothatname，andthatnamedeterminedtothatpreciseidea。Ifmenhadsuchdeterminedideasintheirinquiriesanddiscourses，theywouldbothdiscernhowfartheirowninquiriesanddiscourseswent，andavoidthegreatestpartofthedisputesandwranglingstheyhavewithothers。

Besidesthis，thebooksellerwillthinkitnecessaryIshouldadvertisethereaderthatthereisanadditionoftwochapterswhollynew；theoneoftheAssociationofIdeas，theotherofEnthusiasm。These，withsomeotherlargeradditionsneverbeforeprinted，hehasengagedtoprintbythemselves，afterthesamemanner，andforthesamepurpose，aswasdonewhenthisEssayhadthesecondimpression。

IntheSixthEditionthereisverylittleaddedoraltered。Thegreatestpartofwhatisnewiscontainedinthetwenty-firstchapterofthesecondbook，whichanyone，ifhethinksitworthwhile，may，withaverylittlelabour，transcribeintothemarginoftheformeredition。

INTRODUCTION

ANESSAY

CONCERNINGHUMANUNDERSTANDING

AsthouknowestnotwhatisthewayoftheSpirit，norhowthebonesdogrowinthewombofherthatiswithchild:evensothouknowestnottheworksofGod，whomakethallthings-Eccles。11。5。

Quambellumestvelleconfiteripotiusnescirequodnescias，quamistaeffutientemnauseare，atqueipsumsibidisplicere-Cicero，deNatur。Deor。l。i。

INTRODUCTION

1。AnInquiryintotheunderstanding，pleasantanduseful。Sinceitistheunderstandingthatsetsmanabovetherestofsensiblebeings，andgiveshimalltheadvantageanddominionwhichhehasoverthem；itiscertainlyasubject，evenforitsnobleness，worthourlabourtoinquireinto。Theunderstanding，liketheeye，whilstitmakesusseeandperceiveallotherthings，takesnonoticeofitself；

anditrequiresartandpainstosetitatadistanceandmakeititsownobject。Butwhateverbethedifficultiesthatlieinthewayofthisinquiry；whateveritbethatkeepsussomuchinthedarktoourselves；sureIamthatallthelightwecanletinuponourminds，alltheacquaintancewecanmakewithourownunderstandings，willnotonlybeverypleasant，butbringusgreatadvantage，indirectingourthoughtsinthesearchofotherthings。

2。Design。This，therefore，beingmypurpose-toinquireintotheoriginal，certainty，andextentofhumanknowledge，togetherwiththegroundsanddegreesofbelief，opinion，andassent；-Ishallnotatpresentmeddlewiththephysicalconsiderationofthemind；ortroublemyselftoexaminewhereinitsessenceconsists；orbywhatmotionsofourspiritsoralterationsofourbodieswecometohaveanysensationbyourorgans，oranyideasinourunderstandings；andwhetherthoseideasdointheirformation，anyorallofthem，dependonmatterornot。Thesearespeculationswhich，howevercuriousandentertaining，Ishalldecline，aslyingoutofmywayinthedesignIamnowupon。Itshallsufficetomypresentpurpose，toconsiderthediscerningfacultiesofaman，astheyareemployedabouttheobjectswhichtheyhavetodowith。AndIshallimagineIhavenotwhollymisemployedmyselfinthethoughtsIshallhaveonthisoccasion，if，inthishistorical，plainmethod，Icangiveanyaccountofthewayswherebyourunderstandingscometoattainthosenotionsofthingswehave；andcansetdownanymeasuresofthecertaintyofourknowledge；orthegroundsofthosepersuasionswhicharetobefoundamongstmen，sovarious，different，andwhollycontradictory；

andyetassertedsomewhereorotherwithsuchassuranceandconfidence，thathethatshalltakeaviewoftheopinionsofmankind，observetheiropposition，andatthesametimeconsiderthefondnessanddevotionwherewiththeyareembraced，theresolutionandeagernesswherewiththeyaremaintained，mayperhapshavereasontosuspect，thateitherthereisnosuchthingastruthatall，orthatmankindhathnosufficientmeanstoattainacertainknowledgeofit。

3。Method。Itisthereforeworthwhiletosearchouttheboundsbetweenopinionandknowledge；andexaminebywhatmeasures，inthingswhereofwehavenocertainknowledge，weoughttoregulateourassentandmoderateourpersuasion。InorderwhereuntoIshallpursuethisfollowingmethod:-

First，Ishallinquireintotheoriginalofthoseideas，notions，orwhateverelseyoupleasetocallthem，whichamanobserves，andisconscioustohimselfhehasinhismind；andthewayswherebytheunderstandingcomestobefurnishedwiththem。

Secondly，Ishallendeavourtoshowwhatknowledgetheunderstandinghathbythoseideas；andthecertainty，evidence，andextentofit。

Thirdly，Ishallmakesomeinquiryintothenatureandgroundsoffaithoropinion:wherebyImeanthatassentwhichwegivetoanypropositionastrue，ofwhosetruthyetwehavenocertainknowledge。Andhereweshallhaveoccasiontoexaminethereasonsanddegreesofassent。

4。Usefultoknowtheextentofourcomprehension。Ifbythisinquiryintothenatureoftheunderstanding，Icandiscoverthepowersthereof；howfartheyreach；towhatthingstheyareinanydegreeproportionate；andwheretheyfailus，Isupposeitmaybeofusetoprevailwiththebusymindofmantobemorecautiousinmeddlingwiththingsexceedingitscomprehension；tostopwhenitisattheutmostextentofitstether；andtositdowninaquietignoranceofthosethingswhich，uponexamination，arefoundtobebeyondthereachofourcapacities。Weshouldnotthenperhapsbesoforward，outofanaffectationofanuniversalknowledge，toraisequestions，andperplexourselvesandotherswithdisputesaboutthingstowhichourunderstandingsarenotsuited；andofwhichwecannotframeinourmindsanyclearordistinctperceptions，orwhereof(asithasperhapstoooftenhappened)wehavenotanynotionsatall。

Ifwecanfindouthowfartheunderstandingcanextenditsview；

howfarithasfacultiestoattaincertainty；andinwhatcasesitcanonlyjudgeandguess，wemaylearntocontentourselveswithwhatisattainablebyusinthisstate。

5。Ourcapacitysuitedtoourstateandconcerns。Forthoughthecomprehensionofourunderstandingscomesexceedingshortofthevastextentofthings，yetweshallhavecauseenoughtomagnifythebountifulAuthorofourbeing，forthatproportionanddegreeofknowledgehehasbestowedonus，sofarabovealltherestoftheinhabitantsofthisourmansion。MenhavereasontobewellsatisfiedwithwhatGodhaththoughtfitforthem，sincehehathgiventhem(asSt。Petersays)panaproszoenkaieusebeian，whatsoeverisnecessaryfortheconveniencesoflifeandinformationofvirtue；

andhasputwithinthereachoftheirdiscovery，thecomfortableprovisionforthislife，andthewaythatleadstoabetter。Howshortsoevertheirknowledgemaycomeofanuniversalorperfectcomprehensionofwhatsoeveris，ityetsecurestheirgreatconcernments，thattheyhavelightenoughtoleadthemtotheknowledgeoftheirMaker，andthesightoftheirownduties。Menmayfindmattersufficienttobusytheirheads，andemploytheirhandswithvariety，delight，andsatisfaction，iftheywillnotboldlyquarrelwiththeirownconstitution，andthrowawaytheblessingstheirhandsarefilledwith，becausetheyarenotbigenoughtograspeverything。Weshallnothavemuchreasontocomplainofthenarrownessofourminds，ifwewillbutemploythemaboutwhatmaybeofusetous；forofthattheyareverycapable。Anditwillbeanunpardonable，aswellaschildishpeevishness，ifweundervaluetheadvantagesofourknowledge，andneglecttoimproveittotheendsforwhichitwasgivenus，becausetherearesomethingsthataresetoutofthereachofit。Itwillbenoexcusetoanidleanduntowardservant，whowouldnotattendhisbusinessbycandlelight，topleadthathehadnotbroadsunshine。TheCandlethatissetupinusshinesbrightenoughforallourpurposes。Thediscoverieswecanmakewiththisoughttosatisfyus；andweshallthenuseourunderstandingsright，whenweentertainallobjectsinthatwayandproportionthattheyaresuitedtoourfaculties，anduponthosegroundstheyarecapableofbeingproposedtous；andnotperemptorilyorintemperatelyrequiredemonstration，anddemandcertainty，whereprobabilityonlyistobehad，andwhichissufficienttogovernallourconcernments。

Ifwewilldisbelieveeverything，becausewecannotcertainlyknowallthings，weshalldomuchwhataswiselyashewhowouldnotusehislegs，butsitstillandperish，becausehehadnowingstofly。

6。Knowledgeofourcapacityacureofscepticismandidleness。Whenweknowourownstrength，weshallthebetterknowwhattoundertakewithhopesofsuccess；andwhenwehavewellsurveyedthepowersofourownminds，andmadesomeestimatewhatwemayexpectfromthem，weshallnotbeinclinedeithertositstill，andnotsetourthoughtsonworkatall，indespairofknowinganything；norontheotherside，questioneverything，anddisclaimallknowledge，becausesomethingsarenottobeunderstood。Itisofgreatusetothesailortoknowthelengthofhisline，thoughhecannotwithitfathomallthedepthsoftheocean。Itiswellheknowsthatitislongenoughtoreachthebottom，atsuchplacesasarenecessarytodirecthisvoyage，andcautionhimagainstrunninguponshoalsthatmayruinhim。Ourbusinesshereisnottoknowallthings，butthosewhichconcernourconduct。Ifwecanfindoutthosemeasures，wherebyarationalcreature，putinthatstateinwhichmanisinthisworld，mayandoughttogovernhisopinions，andactionsdependingthereon，weneednottobetroubledthatsomeotherthingsescapeourknowledge。

7。Occasionofthisessay。ThiswasthatwhichgavethefirstrisetothisEssayconcerningtheunderstanding。ForIthoughtthatthefirststeptowardssatisfyingseveralinquiriesthemindofmanwasveryapttoruninto，was，totakeasurveyofourownunderstandings，examineourownpowers，andseetowhatthingstheywereadapted。TillthatwasdoneIsuspectedwebeganatthewrongend，andinvainsoughtforsatisfactioninaquietandsurepossessionoftruthsthatmostconcernedus，whilstweletlooseourthoughtsintothevastoceanofBeing；asifallthatboundlessextentwerethenaturalandundoubtedpossessionofourunderstandings，whereintherewasnothingexemptfromitsdecisions，orthatescapeditscomprehension。Thusmen，extendingtheirinquiriesbeyondtheircapacities，andlettingtheirthoughtswanderintothosedepthswheretheycanfindnosurefooting，itisnowonderthattheyraisequestionsandmultiplydisputes，which，nevercomingtoanyclearresolution，areproperonlytocontinueandincreasetheirdoubts，andtoconfirmthematlastinperfectscepticism。Whereas，werethecapacitiesofourunderstandingswellconsidered，theextentofourknowledgeoncediscovered，andthehorizonfoundwhichsetstheboundsbetweentheenlightenedanddarkpartsofthings；betweenwhatisandwhatisnotcomprehensiblebyus，menwouldperhapswithlessscrupleacquiesceintheavowedignoranceoftheone，andemploytheirthoughtsanddiscoursewithmoreadvantageandsatisfactionintheother。

8。What"Idea"standsfor。ThusmuchIthoughtnecessarytosayconcerningtheoccasionofthisInquiryintohumanUnderstanding。But，beforeIproceedontowhatIhavethoughtonthissubject，Imusthereintheentrancebegpardonofmyreaderforthefrequentuseofthewordidea，whichhewillfindinthefollowingtreatise。Itbeingthattermwhich，Ithink，servesbesttostandforwhatsoeveristheobjectoftheunderstandingwhenamanthinks，Ihaveusedittoexpresswhateverismeantbyphantasm，notion，species，orwhateveritiswhichthemindcanbeemployedaboutinthinking；andIcouldnotavoidfrequentlyusingit。

Ipresumeitwillbeeasilygrantedme，thattherearesuchideasinmen’sminds:everyoneisconsciousoftheminhimself；andmen’swordsandactionswillsatisfyhimthattheyareinothers。

Ourfirstinquirythenshallbe，-howtheycomeintothemind。

BOOKI

NeitherPrinciplesnorIdeasAreInnateChapterI

NoInnateSpeculativePrinciples1。Thewayshownhowwecomebyanyknowledge，sufficienttoproveitnotinnate。Itisanestablishedopinionamongstsomemen，thatthereareintheunderstandingcertaininnateprinciples；someprimarynotions，koinaiennoiai，characters，asitwerestampeduponthemindofman；whichthesoulreceivesinitsveryfirstbeing，andbringsintotheworldwithit。Itwouldbesufficienttoconvinceunprejudicedreadersofthefalsenessofthissupposition，ifIshouldonlyshow(asIhopeIshallinthefollowingpartsofthisDiscourse)

howmen，barelybytheuseoftheirnaturalfaculties，mayattaintoalltheknowledgetheyhave，withoutthehelpofanyinnateimpressions；andmayarriveatcertainty，withoutanysuchoriginalnotionsorprinciples。ForIimagineanyonewilleasilygrantthatitwouldbeimpertinenttosupposetheideasofcoloursinnateinacreaturetowhomGodhathgivensight，andapowertoreceivethembytheeyesfromexternalobjects:andnolessunreasonablewoulditbetoattributeseveraltruthstotheimpressionsofnature，andinnatecharacters，whenwemayobserveinourselvesfacultiesfittoattainaseasyandcertainknowledgeofthemasiftheywereoriginallyimprintedonthemind。

Butbecauseamanisnotpermittedwithoutcensuretofollowhisownthoughtsinthesearchoftruth，whentheyleadhimeversolittleoutofthecommonroad，Ishallsetdownthereasonsthatmademedoubtofthetruthofthatopinion，asanexcuseformymistake，ifIbeinone；whichIleavetobeconsideredbythosewho，withme，disposethemselvestoembracetruthwherevertheyfindit。

2。Generalassentthegreatargument。Thereisnothingmorecommonlytakenforgrantedthanthattherearecertainprinciples，bothspeculativeandpractical，(fortheyspeakofboth)，universallyagreeduponbyallmankind:whichtherefore，theyargue，mustneedsbetheconstantimpressionswhichthesoulsofmenreceiveintheirfirstbeings，andwhichtheybringintotheworldwiththem，asnecessarilyandreallyastheydoanyoftheirinherentfaculties。

3。Universalconsentprovesnothinginnate。Thisargument，drawnfromuniversalconsent，hasthismisfortuneinit，thatifitweretrueinmatteroffact，thattherewerecertaintruthswhereinallmankindagreed，itwouldnotprovetheminnate，iftherecanbeanyotherwayshownhowmenmaycometothatuniversalagreement，inthethingstheydoconsentin，whichIpresumemaybedone。

4。"Whatis，is，"and"Itisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"notuniversallyassentedto。But，whichisworse，thisargumentofuniversalconsent，whichismadeuseoftoproveinnateprinciples，seemstomeademonstrationthattherearenonesuch:

becausetherearenonetowhichallmankindgiveanuniversalassent。Ishallbeginwiththespeculative，andinstanceinthosemagnifiedprinciplesofdemonstration，"Whatsoeveris，is，"and"Itisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe"；which，ofallothers，Ithinkhavethemostallowedtitletoinnate。Thesehavesosettledareputationofmaximsuniversallyreceived，thatitwillnodoubtbethoughtstrangeifanyoneshouldseemtoquestionit。ButyetItakelibertytosay，thatthesepropositionsaresofarfromhavinganuniversalassent，thatthereareagreatpartofmankindtowhomtheyarenotsomuchasknown。

5。Notonthemindnaturallyimprinted，becausenotknowntochildren，idiots，&c。For，first，itisevident，thatallchildrenandidiotshavenottheleastapprehensionorthoughtofthem。Andthewantofthatisenoughtodestroythatuniversalassentwhichmustneedsbethenecessaryconcomitantofallinnatetruths:itseemingtomenearacontradictiontosay，thattherearetruthsimprintedonthesoul，whichitperceivesorunderstandsnot:imprinting，ifitsignifyanything，beingnothingelsebutthemakingcertaintruthstobeperceived。Fortoimprintanythingonthemindwithoutthemind’sperceivingit，seemstomehardlyintelligible。Ifthereforechildrenandidiotshavesouls，haveminds，withthoseimpressionsuponthem，theymustunavoidablyperceivethem，andnecessarilyknowandassenttothesetruths；whichsincetheydonot，itisevidentthattherearenosuchimpressions。Foriftheyarenotnotionsnaturallyimprinted，howcantheybeinnate？andiftheyarenotionsimprinted，howcantheybeunknown？Tosayanotionisimprintedonthemind，andyetatthesametimetosay，thatthemindisignorantofit，andneveryettooknoticeofit，istomakethisimpressionnothing。Nopropositioncanbesaidtobeinthemindwhichitneveryetknew，whichitwasneveryetconsciousof。Forifanyonemay，then，bythesamereason，allpropositionsthataretrue，andthemindiscapableeverofassentingto，maybesaidtobeinthemind，andtobeimprinted:since，ifanyonecanbesaidtobeinthemind，whichitneveryetknew，itmustbeonlybecauseitiscapableofknowingit；andsothemindisofalltruthsitevershallknow。Nay，thustruthsmaybeimprintedonthemindwhichitneverdid，norevershallknow；foramanmaylivelong，anddieatlastinignoranceofmanytruthswhichhismindwascapableofknowing，andthatwithcertainty。

Sothatifthecapacityofknowingbethenaturalimpressioncontendedfor，allthetruthsamanevercomestoknowwill，bythisaccount，beeveryoneoftheminnate；andthisgreatpointwillamounttonomore，butonlytoaveryimproperwayofspeaking；which，whilstitpretendstoassertthecontrary，saysnothingdifferentfromthosewhodenyinnateprinciples。Fornobody，Ithink，everdeniedthatthemindwascapableofknowingseveraltruths。Thecapacity，theysay，isinnate；theknowledgeacquired。Butthentowhatendsuchcontestforcertaininnatemaxims？Iftruthscanbeimprintedontheunderstandingwithoutbeingperceived，Icanseenodifferencetherecanbebetweenanytruthsthemindiscapableofknowinginrespectoftheiroriginal:theymustallbeinnateoralladventitious:invainshallamangoabouttodistinguishthem。Hethereforethattalksofinnatenotionsintheunderstanding，cannot(ifheintendtherebyanydistinctsortoftruths)meansuchtruthstobeintheunderstandingasitneverperceived，andisyetwhollyignorantof。

Forifthesewords"tobeintheunderstanding"haveanypropriety，theysignifytobeunderstood。Sothattobeintheunderstanding，andnottobeunderstood；tobeinthemindandnevertobeperceived，isalloneastosayanythingisandisnotinthemindorunderstanding。Ifthereforethesetwopropositions，"Whatsoeveris，is，"and"Itisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"

arebynatureimprinted，childrencannotbeignorantofthem:infants，andallthathavesouls，mustnecessarilyhavethemintheirunderstandings，knowthetruthofthem，andassenttoit。

6。Thatmenknowthemwhentheycometotheuseofreason，answered。

Toavoidthis，itisusuallyanswered，thatallmenknowandassenttothem，whentheycometotheuseofreason；andthisisenoughtoprovetheminnate。Ianswer:

7。Doubtfulexpressions，thathavescarceanysignification，goforclearreasonstothosewho，beingprepossessed，takenotthepainstoexamineevenwhattheythemselvessay。For，toapplythisanswerwithanytolerablesensetoourpresentpurpose，itmustsignifyoneofthesetwothings:eitherthatassoonasmencometotheuseofreasonthesesupposednativeinscriptionscometobeknownandobservedbythem；orelse，thattheuseandexerciseofmen’sreason，assiststheminthediscoveryoftheseprinciples，andcertainlymakesthemknowntothem。

8。Ifreasondiscoveredthem，thatwouldnotprovetheminnate。Iftheymean，thatbytheuseofreasonmenmaydiscovertheseprinciples，andthatthisissufficienttoprovetheminnate；theirwayofarguingwillstandthus，viz。thatwhatevertruthsreasoncancertainlydiscovertous，andmakeusfirmlyassentto，thoseareallnaturallyimprintedonthemind；sincethatuniversalassent，whichismadethemarkofthem，amountstonomorebutthis，-thatbytheuseofreasonwearecapabletocometoacertainknowledgeofandassenttothem；and，bythismeans，therewillbenodifferencebetweenthemaximsofthemathematicians，andtheoremstheydeducefromthem:allmustbeequallyallowedinnate；theybeingalldiscoveriesmadebytheuseofreason，andtruthsthatarationalcreaturemaycertaintycometoknow，ifheapplyhisthoughtsrightlythatway。

9。Itisfalsethatreasondiscoversthem。Buthowcanthesementhinktheuseofreasonnecessarytodiscoverprinciplesthataresupposedinnate，whenreason(ifwemaybelievethem)isnothingelsebutthefacultyofdeducingunknowntruthsfromprinciplesorpropositionsthatarealreadyknown？Thatcertainlycanneverbethoughtinnatewhichwehaveneedofreasontodiscover；unless，asIhavesaid，wewillhaveallthecertaintruthsthatreasoneverteachesus，tobeinnate。Wemayaswellthinktheuseofreasonnecessarytomakeoureyesdiscovervisibleobjects，asthatthereshouldbeneedofreason，ortheexercisethereof，tomaketheunderstandingseewhatisoriginallyengravenonit，andcannotbeintheunderstandingbeforeitbeperceivedbyit。Sothattomakereasondiscoverthosetruthsthusimprinted，istosay，thattheuseofreasondiscoverstoamanwhatheknewbefore:andifmenhavethoseinnateimpressedtruthsoriginally，andbeforetheuseofreason，andyetarealwaysignorantofthemtilltheycometotheuseofreason，itisineffecttosay，thatmenknowandknowthemnotatthesametime。

10。Nousemadeofreasoninginthediscoveryofthesetwomaxims。

Itwillhereperhapsbesaidthatmathematicaldemonstrations，andothertruthsthatarenotinnate，arenotassentedtoassoonasproposed，whereintheyaredistinguishedfromthesemaximsandotherinnatetruths。Ishallhaveoccasiontospeakofassentuponthefirstproposing，moreparticularlybyandby。Ishallhereonly，andthatveryreadily，allow，thatthesemaximsandmathematicaldemonstrationsareinthisdifferent:thattheonehaveneedofreason，usingofproofs，tomakethemoutandtogainourassent；buttheother，assoonasunderstood，are，withoutanytheleastreasoning，embracedandassentedto。ButIwithalbegleavetoobserve，thatitlaysopentheweaknessofthissubterfuge，whichrequirestheuseofreasonforthediscoveryofthesegeneraltruths:sinceitmustbeconfessedthatintheirdiscoverythereisnousemadeofreasoningatall。AndIthinkthosewhogivethisanswerwillnotbeforwardtoaffirmthattheknowledgeofthismaxim，"Thatitisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"isadeductionofourreason。Forthiswouldbetodestroythatbountyofnaturetheyseemsofondof，whilsttheymaketheknowledgeofthoseprinciplestodependonthelabourofourthoughts。Forallreasoningissearch，andcastingabout，andrequirespainsandapplication。Andhowcanitwithanytolerablesensebesupposed，thatwhatwasimprintedbynature，asthefoundationandguideofourreason，shouldneedtheuseofreasontodiscoverit？

11。Andiftherewere，thiswouldprovethemnotinnate。Thosewhowilltakethepainstoreflectwithalittleattentionontheoperationsoftheunderstanding，willfindthatthisreadyassentofthemindtosometruths，dependsnot，eitheronnativeinscription，ortheuseofreason，butonafacultyofthemindquitedistinctfrombothofthem，asweshallseehereafter。Reason，therefore，havingnothingtodoinprocuringourassenttothesemaxims，ifbysaying，that"menknowandassenttothem，whentheycometotheuseofreason，"bemeant，thattheuseofreasonassistsusintheknowledgeofthesemaxims，itisutterlyfalse；andwereittrue，wouldprovethemnottobeinnate。

12。Thecomingtotheuseofreasonnotthetimewecometoknowthesemaxims。Ifbyknowingandassentingtothem"whenwecometotheuseofreason，"bemeant，thatthisisthetimewhentheycometobetakennoticeofbythemind；andthatassoonaschildrencometotheuseofreason，theycomealsotoknowandassenttothesemaxims；thisalsoisfalseandfrivolous。First，itisfalse；

becauseitisevidentthesemaximsarenotinthemindsoearlyastheuseofreason；andthereforethecomingtotheuseofreasonisfalselyassignedasthetimeoftheirdiscovery。Howmanyinstancesoftheuseofreasonmayweobserveinchildren，alongtimebeforetheyhaveanyknowledgeofthismaxim，"Thatitisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe？"Andagreatpartofilliteratepeopleandsavagespassmanyyears，evenoftheirrationalage，withouteverthinkingonthisandthelikegeneralpropositions。I

grant，mencomenottotheknowledgeofthesegeneralandmoreabstracttruths，whicharethoughtinnate，tilltheycometotheuseofreason；andIadd，northenneither。Whichisso，because，tillaftertheycometotheuseofreason，thosegeneralabstractideasarenotframedinthemind，aboutwhichthosegeneralmaximsare，whicharemistakenforinnateprinciples，butareindeeddiscoveriesmadeandveritiesintroducedandbroughtintothemindbythesameway，anddiscoveredbythesamesteps，asseveralotherpropositions，whichnobodywaseversoextravagantastosupposeinnate。ThisIhopetomakeplaininthesequelofthisDiscourse。Iallowtherefore，anecessitythatmenshouldcometotheuseofreasonbeforetheygettheknowledgeofthosegeneraltruths；butdenythatmen’scomingtotheuseofreasonisthetimeoftheirdiscovery。

13。Bythistheyarenotdistinguishedfromotherknowabletruths。

Inthemeantimeitisobservable，thatthissaying，thatmenknowandassenttothesemaxims"whentheycometotheuseofreason，"

amountsinrealityoffacttonomorebutthis，-thattheyareneverknownnortakennoticeofbeforetheuseofreason，butmaypossiblybeassentedtosometimeafter，duringaman’slife；butwhenisuncertain。Andsomayallotherknowabletruths，aswellasthese；

whichthereforehavenoadvantagenordistinctionfromothersbythisnoteofbeingknownwhenwecometotheuseofreason；noraretherebyprovedtobeinnate，butquitethecontrary。

14。Ifcomingtotheuseofreasonwerethetimeoftheirdiscoveryitwouldnotprovetheminnate。But，secondly，wereittruethattheprecisetimeoftheirbeingknownandassentedtowere，whenmencometotheuseofreason；neitherwouldthatprovetheminnate。Thiswayofarguingisasfrivolousasthesuppositionitselfisfalse。For，bywhatkindoflogicwillitappearthatanynotionisoriginallybynatureimprintedinthemindinitsfirstconstitution，becauseitcomesfirsttobeobservedandassentedtowhenafacultyofthemind，whichhasquiteadistinctprovince，beginstoexertitself？Andthereforethecomingtotheuseofspeech，ifitweresupposedthetimethatthesemaximsarefirstassentedto，(whichitmaybewithasmuchtruthasthetimewhenmencometotheuseofreason，)wouldbeasgoodaproofthattheywereinnate，astosaytheyareinnatebecausemenassenttothemwhentheycometotheuseofreason。Iagreethenwiththesemenofinnateprinciples，thatthereisnoknowledgeofthesegeneralandself-evidentmaximsinthemind，tillitcomestotheexerciseofreason:butIdenythatthecomingtotheuseofreasonistheprecisetimewhentheyarefirsttakennoticeof，andifthatweretheprecisetime，Idenythatitwouldprovetheminnate。Allthatcanwithanytruthbemeantbythisproposition，thatmen"assenttothemwhentheycometotheuseofreason，"isnomorebutthis，-thatthemakingofgeneralabstractideas，andtheunderstandingofgeneralnames，beingaconcomitantoftherationalfaculty，andgrowingupwithit，childrencommonlygetnotthosegeneralideas，norlearnthenamesthatstandforthem，till，havingforagoodwhileexercisedtheirreasonaboutfamiliarandmoreparticularideas，theyare，bytheirordinarydiscourseandactionswithothers，acknowledgedtobecapableofrationalconversation。Ifassentingtothesemaxims，whenmencometotheuseofreason，canbetrueinanyothersense，Idesireitmaybeshown；oratleast，howinthis，oranyothersense，itprovestheminnate。

15。Thestepsbywhichthemindattainsseveraltruths。Thesensesatfirstletinparticularideas，andfurnishtheyetemptycabinet，andthemindbydegreesgrowingfamiliarwithsomeofthem，theyarelodgedinthememory，andnamesgottothem。Afterwards，themindproceedingfurther，abstractsthem，andbydegreeslearnstheuseofgeneralnames。Inthismannerthemindcomestobefurnishedwithideasandlanguage，thematerialsaboutwhichtoexerciseitsdiscursivefaculty。Andtheuseofreasonbecomesdailymorevisible，asthesematerialsthatgiveitemploymentincrease。Butthoughthehavingofgeneralideasandtheuseofgeneralwordsandreasonusuallygrowtogether，yetIseenothowthisanywayprovestheminnate。Theknowledgeofsometruths，Iconfess，isveryearlyinthemindbutinawaythatshowsthemnottobeinnate。For，ifwewillobserve，weshallfinditstilltobeaboutideas，notinnate，butacquired；itbeingaboutthosefirstwhichareimprintedbyexternalthings，withwhichinfantshaveearliesttodo，whichmakethemostfrequentimpressionsontheirsenses。Inideasthusgot，theminddiscoversthatsomeagreeandothersdiffer，probablyassoonasithasanyuseofmemory；assoonasitisabletoretainandperceivedistinctideas。Butwhetheritbethenorno，thisiscertain，itdoessolongbeforeithastheuseofwords；orcomestothatwhichwecommonlycall"theuseofreason。"Forachildknowsascertainlybeforeitcanspeakthedifferencebetweentheideasofsweetandbitter(i。e。thatsweetisnotbitter)，asitknowsafterwards(whenitcomestospeak)thatwormwoodandsugarplumsarenotthesamething。

16。Assenttosupposedinnatetruthsdependsonhavingclearanddistinctideasofwhattheirtermsmean，andnotontheirinnateness。Achildknowsnotthatthreeandfourareequaltoseven，tillhecomestobeabletocountseven，andhasgotthenameandideaofequality；andthen，uponexplainingthosewords，hepresentlyassentsto，orratherperceivesthetruthofthatproposition。Butneitherdoeshethenreadilyassentbecauseitisaninnatetruth，norwashisassentwantingtillthenbecausehewantedtheuseofreason；butthetruthofitappearstohimassoonashehassettledinhismindtheclearanddistinctideasthatthesenamesstandfor。Andthenheknowsthetruthofthatpropositionuponthesamegroundsandbythesamemeans，thatheknewbeforethatarodandacherryarenotthesamething；anduponthesamegroundsalsothathemaycometoknowafterwards"Thatitisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"asshallbemorefullyshownhereafter。Sothatthelateritisbeforeanyonecomestohavethosegeneralideasaboutwhichthosemaximsare；ortoknowthesignificationofthosegeneraltermsthatstandforthem；ortoputtogetherinhismindtheideastheystandfor；thelateralsowillitbebeforehecomestoassenttothosemaxims；-whoseterms，withtheideastheystandfor，beingnomoreinnatethanthoseofacatoraweasel，hemuststaytilltimeandobservationhaveacquaintedhimwiththem；andthenhewillbeinacapacitytoknowthetruthofthesemaxims，uponthefirstoccasionthatshallmakehimputtogetherthoseideasinhismind，andobservewhethertheyagreeordisagree，accordingasisexpressedinthosepropositions。Andthereforeitisthatamanknowsthateighteenandnineteenareequaltothirty-seven，bythesameself-evidencethatheknowsoneandtwotobeequaltothree:yetachildknowsthisnotsosoonastheother；notforwantoftheuseofreason，butbecausetheideasthewordseighteen，nineteen，andthirty-sevenstandfor，arenotsosoongot，asthosewhicharesignifiedbyone，two，andthree。

17。Assentingassoonasproposedandunderstood，provesthemnotinnate。Thisevasionthereforeofgeneralassentwhenmencometotheuseofreason，failingasitdoes，andleavingnodifferencebetweenthosesupposeinnateandothertruthsthatareafterwardsacquiredandlearnt，menhaveendeavouredtosecureanuniversalassenttothosetheycallmaxims，bysaying，theyaregenerallyassentedtoassoonasproposed，andthetermstheyareproposedinunderstood:seeingallmen，evenchildren，assoonastheyhearandunderstandtheterms，assenttothesepropositions，theythinkitissufficienttoprovetheminnate。Forsincemenneverfailaftertheyhaveonceunderstoodthewords，toacknowledgethemforundoubtedtruths，theywouldinfer，thatcertainlythesepropositionswerefirstlodgedintheunderstanding，which，withoutanyteaching，themind，attheveryfirstproposalimmediatelycloseswithandassentsto，andafterthatneverdoubtsagain。

18。Ifsuchanassentbeamarkofinnate，then"thatoneandtwoareequaltothree，thatsweetnessisnotbitterness，"andathousandthelike，mustbeinnate。Inanswertothis，Idemandwhetherreadyassentgiventoaproposition，uponfirsthearingandunderstandingtheterms，beacertainmarkofaninnateprinciple？

Ifitbenot，suchageneralassentisinvainurgedasaproofofthem:ifitbesaidthatitisamarkofinnate，theymustthenallowallsuchpropositionstobeinnatewhicharegenerallyassentedtoassoonasheard，wherebytheywillfindthemselvesplentifullystoredwithinnateprinciples。Foruponthesameground，viz。ofassentatfirsthearingandunderstandingtheterms，thatmenwouldhavethosemaximspassforinnate，theymustalsoadmitseveralpropositionsaboutnumberstobeinnate；andthus，thatoneandtwoareequaltothree，thattwoandtwoareequaltofour，andamultitudeofotherthelikepropositionsinnumbers，thateverybodyassentstoatfirsthearingandunderstandingtheterms，musthaveaplaceamongsttheseinnateaxioms。Noristhistheprerogativeofnumbersalone，andpropositionsmadeaboutseveralofthem；butevennaturalphilosophy，andalltheothersciences，affordpropositionswhicharesuretomeetwithassentassoonastheyareunderstood。That"twobodiescannotbeinthesameplace"isatruththatnobodyanymoresticksatthanatthesemaxims，that"itisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"that"whiteisnotblack，"that"asquareisnotacircle，"that"bitternessisnotsweetness。"Theseandamillionofsuchotherpropositions，asmanyatleastaswehavedistinctideasof，everymaninhiswits，atfirsthearing，andknowingwhatthenamesstandfor，mustnecessarilyassentto。Ifthesemenwillbetruetotheirownrule，andhaveassentatfirsthearingandunderstandingthetermstobeamarkofinnate，theymustallownotonlyasmanyinnatepropositionsasmenhavedistinctideas，butasmanyasmencanmakepropositionswhereindifferentideasaredeniedoneofanother。Sinceeverypropositionwhereinonedifferentideaisdeniedofanother，willascertainlyfindassentatfirsthearingandunderstandingthetermsasthisgeneralone，"Itisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"orthatwhichisthefoundationofit，andistheeasierunderstoodofthetwo，"Thesameisnotdifferent"；bywhichaccounttheywillhavelegionsofinnatepropositionsofthisonesort，withoutmentioninganyother。But，sincenopropositioncanbeinnateunlesstheideasaboutwhichitisbeinnate，thiswillbetosupposeallourideasofcolours，sounds，tastes，figure，&c。，innate，thanwhichtherecannotbeanythingmoreoppositetoreasonandexperience。Universalandreadyassentuponhearingandunderstandingthetermsis，Igrant，amarkofself-evidence；butself-evidence，dependingnotoninnateimpressions，butonsomethingelse，(asweshallshowhereafter，)

belongstoseveralpropositionswhichnobodywasyetsoextravagantastopretendtobeinnate。

19。Suchlessgeneralpropositionsknownbeforetheseuniversalmaxims。Norletitbesaid，thatthosemoreparticularself-evidentpropositions，whichareassentedtoatfirsthearing，asthat"oneandtwoareequaltothree，"that"greenisnotred，"&c。，arereceivedastheconsequencesofthosemoreuniversalpropositionswhicharelookedonasinnateprinciples；sinceanyone，whowillbuttakethepainstoobservewhatpassesintheunderstanding，willcertainlyfindthatthese，andthelikelessgeneralpropositions，arecertainlyknown，andfirmlyassentedtobythosewhoareutterlyignorantofthosemoregeneralmaxims；andso，beingearlierinthemindthanthose(astheyarecalled)firstprinciples，cannotowetothemtheassentwherewiththeyarereceivedatfirsthearing。

20。"OneandoneequaltoTwo，&c。，notgeneralnoruseful，"

answered。Ifitbesaid，thatthesepropositions，viz。"twoandtwoareequaltofour，""redisnotblue，"&c。，arenotgeneralmaxims，norofanygreatuse，Ianswer，thatmakesnothingtotheargumentofuniversalassentuponhearingandunderstanding。For，ifthatbethecertainmarkofinnate，whateverpropositioncanbefoundthatreceivesgeneralassentassoonasheardandunderstood，thatmustbeadmittedforaninnateproposition，aswellasthismaxim，"Thatitisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"theybeinguponthisgroundequal。Andastothedifferenceofbeingmoregeneral，thatmakesthismaximmoreremotefrombeinginnate；thosegeneralandabstractideasbeingmorestrangerstoourfirstapprehensionsthanthoseofmoreparticularself-evidentpropositions；andthereforeitislongerbeforetheyareadmittedandassentedtobythegrowingunderstanding。Andastotheusefulnessofthesemagnifiedmaxims，thatperhapswillnotbefoundsogreatasisgenerallyconceived，whenitcomesinitsdueplacetobemorefullyconsidered。

21。Thesemaximsnotbeingknownsometimestillproposed，provesthemnotinnate。Butwehavenotyetdonewith"assentingtopropositionsatfirsthearingandunderstandingtheirterms。"Itisfitwefirsttakenoticethatthis，insteadofbeingamarkthattheyareinnate，isaproofofthecontrary；sinceitsupposesthatseveral，whounderstandandknowotherthings，areignorantoftheseprinciplestilltheyareproposedtothem；andthatonemaybeunacquaintedwiththesetruthstillhehearsthemfromothers。For，iftheywereinnate，whatneedtheybeproposedinordertogainingassent，when，bybeingintheunderstanding，byanaturalandoriginalimpression，(iftherewereanysuch，)theycouldnotbutbeknownbefore？Ordoththeproposingthemprintthemclearerinthemindthannaturedid？Ifso，thentheconsequencewillbe，thatamanknowsthembetterafterhehasbeenthustaughtthemthanhedidbefore。Whenceitwillfollowthattheseprinciplesmaybemademoreevidenttousbyothers’teachingthannaturehasmadethembyimpression:whichwillillagreewiththeopinionofinnateprinciples，andgivebutlittleauthoritytothem；but，onthecontrary，makesthemunfittobethefoundationsofallourotherknowledge；astheyarepretendedtobe。

Thiscannotbedenied，thatmengrowfirstacquaintedwithmanyoftheseself-evidenttruthsupontheirbeingproposed:butitisclearthatwhosoeverdoesso，findsinhimselfthathethenbeginstoknowaproposition，whichheknewnotbefore，andwhichfromthenceforthheneverquestions；notbecauseitwasinnate，butbecausetheconsiderationofthenatureofthethingscontainedinthosewordswouldnotsufferhimtothinkotherwise，how，orwhensoeverheisbroughttoreflectonthem。Andifwhateverisassentedtoatfirsthearingandunderstandingthetermsmustpassforaninnateprinciple，everywell-groundedobservation，drawnfromparticularsintoageneralrule，mustbeinnate。Whenyetitiscertainthatnotall，butonlysagaciousheads，lightatfirstontheseobservations，andreducethemintogeneralpropositions:notinnate，butcollectedfromaprecedingacquaintanceandreflectiononparticularinstances。

These，whenobservingmenhavemadethem，unobservingmen，whentheyareproposedtothem，cannotrefusetheirassentto。

22。Implicitlyknownbeforeproposing，signifiesthatthemindiscapableofunderstandingthem，orelsesignifiesnothing。Ifitbesaid，theunderstandinghathanimplicitknowledgeoftheseprinciples，butnotanexplicit，beforethisfirsthearing(astheymustwhowillsay"thattheyareintheunderstandingbeforetheyareknown，")itwillbehardtoconceivewhatismeantbyaprincipleimprintedontheunderstandingimplicitly，unlessitbethis，-thatthemindiscapableofunderstandingandassentingfirmlytosuchpropositions。Andthusallmathematicaldemonstrations，aswellasfirstprinciples，mustbereceivedasnativeimpressionsonthemind；whichIfeartheywillscarceallowthemtobe，whofindithardertodemonstrateapropositionthanassenttoitwhendemonstrated。Andfewmathematicianswillbeforwardtobelieve，thatallthediagramstheyhavedrawnwerebutcopiesofthoseinnatecharacterswhichnaturehadengravenupontheirminds。

23。Theargumentofassentingonfirsthearing，isuponafalsesuppositionofnoprecedentteaching。Thereis，Ifear，thisfurtherweaknessintheforegoingargument，whichwouldpersuadeusthatthereforethosemaximsaretobethoughtinnate，whichmenadmitatfirsthearing；becausetheyassenttopropositionswhichtheyarenottaught，nordoreceivefromtheforceofanyargumentordemonstration，butabareexplicationorunderstandingoftheterms。

Underwhichthereseemstometoliethisfallacy，thatmenaresupposednottobetaughtnortolearnanythingdenovo；when，intruth，theyaretaught，anddolearnsomethingtheywereignorantofbefore。For，first，itisevidentthattheyhavelearnedtheterms，andtheirsignification；neitherofwhichwasbornwiththem。Butthisisnotalltheacquiredknowledgeinthecase:theideasthemselves，aboutwhichthepropositionis，arenotbornwiththem，nomorethantheirnames，butgotafterwards。Sothatinallpropositionsthatareassentedtoatfirsthearing，thetermsoftheproposition，theirstandingforsuchideas，andtheideasthemselvesthattheystandfor，beingneitheroftheminnate，Iwouldfainknowwhatthereisremaininginsuchpropositionsthatisinnate。ForIwouldgladlyhaveanyonenamethatpropositionwhosetermsorideaswereeitheroftheminnate。Webydegreesgetideasandnames，andlearntheirappropriatedconnexiononewithanother；andthentopropositionsmadeinsuchterms，whosesignificationwehavelearnt，andwhereintheagreementordisagreementwecanperceiveinourideaswhenputtogetherisexpressed，weatfirsthearingassent；thoughtootherpropositions，inthemselvesascertainandevident，butwhichareconcerningideasnotsosoonorsoeasilygot，weareatthesametimenowaycapableofassenting。For，thoughachildquicklyassentstothisproposition，"Thatanappleisnotfire，"whenbyfamiliaracquaintancehehasgottheideasofthosetwodifferentthingsdistinctlyimprintedonhismind，andhaslearntthatthenamesappleandfirestandforthem；yetitwillbesomeyearsafter，perhaps，beforethesamechildwillassenttothisproposition，"Thatitisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe"；

becausethat，thoughperhapsthewordsareaseasytobelearnt，yetthesignificationofthembeingmorelarge，comprehensive，andabstractthanofthenamesannexedtothosesensiblethingsthechildhathtodowith，itislongerbeforehelearnstheirprecisemeaning，anditrequiresmoretimeplainlytoforminhismindthosegeneralideastheystandfor。Tillthatbedone，youwillinvainendeavourtomakeanychildassenttoapropositionmadeupofsuchgeneralterms；butassoonaseverhehasgotthoseideas，andlearnedtheirnames，heforwardlycloseswiththeoneaswellastheotheroftheforementionedpropositions:andwithbothforthesamereason；viz。becausehefindstheideashehasinhismindtoagreeordisagree，accordingasthewordsstandingforthemareaffirmedordeniedoneofanotherintheproposition。Butifpropositionsbebroughttohiminwordswhichstandforideashehasnotyetinhismind，tosuchpropositions，howeverevidentlytrueorfalseinthemselves，heaffordsneitherassentnordissent，butisignorant。

Forwordsbeingbutemptysounds，anyfurtherthantheyaresignsofourideas，wecannotbutassenttothemastheycorrespondtothoseideaswehave，butnofurtherthanthat。Buttheshowingbywhatstepsandwaysknowledgecomesintoourminds；andthegroundsofseveraldegreesofassent，beingthebusinessofthefollowingDiscourse，itmaysufficetohaveonlytouchedonithere，asonereasonthatmademedoubtofthoseinnateprinciples。

24。Notinnate，becausenotuniversallyassentedto。Toconcludethisargumentofuniversalconsent，Iagreewiththesedefendersofinnateprinciples，-thatiftheyareinnate，theymustneedshaveuniversalassent。Forthatatruthshouldbeinnateandyetnotassentedto，istomeasunintelligibleasforamantoknowatruthandbeignorantofitatthesametime。Butthen，bythesemen’sownconfession，theycannotbeinnate；sincetheyarenotassentedtobythosewhounderstandnottheterms；norbyagreatpartofthosewhodounderstandthem，buthaveyetneverheardnorthoughtofthosepropositions；which，Ithink，isatleastonehalfofmankind。Butwerethenumberfarless，itwouldbeenoughtodestroyuniversalassent，andtherebyshowthesepropositionsnottobeinnate，ifchildrenalonewereignorantofthem。

25。Thesemaximsnotthefirstknown。ButthatImaynotbeaccusedtoarguefromthethoughtsofinfants，whichareunknowntous，andtoconcludefromwhatpassesintheirunderstandingsbeforetheyexpressit；Isaynext，thatthesetwogeneralpropositionsarenotthetruthsthatfirstpossessthemindsofchildren，norareantecedenttoallacquiredandadventitiousnotions:which，iftheywereinnate，theymustneedsbe。Whetherwecandetermineitorno，itmattersnot，thereiscertainlyatimewhenchildrenbegintothink，andtheirwordsandactionsdoassureusthattheydoso。Whenthereforetheyarecapableofthought，ofknowledge，ofassent，canitrationallybesupposedtheycanbeignorantofthosenotionsthatnaturehasimprinted，werethereanysuch？Canitbeimagined，withanyappearanceofreason，thattheyperceivetheimpressionsfromthingswithout，andbeatthesametimeignorantofthosecharacterswhichnatureitselfhastakencaretostampwithin？Cantheyreceiveandassenttoadventitiousnotions，andbeignorantofthosewhicharesupposedwovenintotheveryprinciplesoftheirbeing，andimprintedthereinindeliblecharacters，tobethefoundationandguideofalltheiracquiredknowledgeandfuturereasonings？Thiswouldbetomakenaturetakepainstonopurpose；oratleasttowriteveryill；sinceitscharacterscouldnotbereadbythoseeyeswhichsawotherthingsverywell:andthoseareveryillsupposedtheclearestpartsoftruth，andthefoundationsofallourknowledge，whicharenotfirstknown，andwithoutwhichtheundoubtedknowledgeofseveralotherthingsmaybehad。Thechildcertainlyknows，thatthenursethatfeedsitisneitherthecatitplayswith，northeblackmooritisafraidof:thatthewormseedormustarditrefuses，isnottheappleorsugaritcriesfor:thisitiscertainlyandundoubtedlyassuredof:butwillanyonesay，itisbyvirtueofthisprinciple，"Thatitisimpossibleforthesamethingtobeandnottobe，"thatitsofirmlyassentstotheseandotherpartsofitsknowledge？Orthatthechildhasanynotionorapprehensionofthatpropositionatanage，whereinyet，itisplain，itknowsagreatmanyothertruths？Hethatwillsay，childrenjoininthesegeneralabstractspeculationswiththeirsucking-bottlesandtheirrattles，mayperhaps，withjustice，bethoughttohavemorepassionandzealforhisopinion，butlesssincerityandtruth，thanoneofthatage。

26。Andsonotinnate。Thoughthereforetherebeseveralgeneralpropositionsthatmeetwithconstantandreadyassent，assoonasproposedtomengrownup，whohaveattainedtheuseofmoregeneralandabstractideas，andnamesstandingforthem；yettheynotbeingtobefoundinthoseoftenderyears，whoneverthelessknowotherthings，theycannotpretendtouniversalassentofintelligentpersons，andsobynomeanscanbesupposedinnate；-itbeingimpossiblethatanytruthwhichisinnate(iftherewereanysuch)shouldbeunknown，atleasttoanyonewhoknowsanythingelse。Since，iftheyareinnatetruths，theymustbeinnatethoughts:therebeingnothingatruthinthemindthatithasneverthoughton。Wherebyitisevident，iftherebyanyinnatetruths，theymustnecessarilybethefirstofanythoughton；thefirstthatappear。

27。Notinnate，becausetheyappearleastwherewhatisinnateshowsitselfclearest。Thatthegeneralmaximswearediscoursingofarenotknowntochildren，idiots，andagreatpartofmankind，wehavealreadysufficientlyproved:wherebyitisevidenttheyhavenotanuniversalassent，noraregeneralimpressions。Butthereisthisfurtherargumentinitagainsttheirbeinginnate:thatthesecharacters，iftheywerenativeandoriginalimpressions，shouldappearfairestandclearestinthosepersonsinwhomyetwefindnofootstepsofthem；anditis，inmyopinion，astrongpresumptionthattheyarenotinnate，sincetheyareleastknowntothoseinwhom，iftheywereinnate，theymustneedsexertthemselveswithmostforceandvigour。Forchildren，idiots，savages，andilliteratepeople，beingofallotherstheleastcorruptedbycustom，orborrowedopinions；

learningandeducationhavingnotcasttheirnativethoughtsintonewmoulds；norbysuper-inducingforeignandstudieddoctrines，confoundedthosefaircharactersnaturehadwrittenthere；onemightreasonablyimaginethatintheirmindstheseinnatenotionsshouldlieopenfairlytoeveryone’sview，asitiscertainthethoughtsofchildrendo。Itmightverywellbeexpectedthattheseprinciplesshouldbeperfectlyknowntonaturals；whichbeingstampedimmediatelyonthesoul，(asthesemensuppose，)canhavenodependenceontheconstitutionororgansofthebody，theonlyconfesseddifferencebetweenthemandothers。Onewouldthink，accordingtothesemen’sprinciples，thatallthesenativebeamsoflight(werethereanysuch)

should，inthosewhohavenoreserves，noartsofconcealment，shineoutintheirfulllustre，andleaveusinnomoredoubtoftheirbeingthere，thanweareoftheirloveofpleasureandabhorrenceofpain。

Butalas，amongstchildren，idiots，savages，andthegrosslyilliterate，whatgeneralmaximsaretobefound？Whatuniversalprinciplesofknowledge？Theirnotionsarefewandnarrow，borrowedonlyfromthoseobjectstheyhavehadmosttodowith，andwhichhavemadeupontheirsensesthefrequentestandstrongestimpressions。

Achildknowshisnurseandhiscradle，andbydegreestheplaythingsofalittlemoreadvancedage；andayoungsavagehas，perhaps，hisheadfilledwithloveandhunting，accordingtothefashionofhistribe。Buthethatfromachilduntaught，orawildinhabitantofthewoods，willexpecttheseabstractmaximsandreputedprinciplesofscience，will，Ifear，findhimselfmistaken。SuchkindofgeneralpropositionsareseldommentionedinthehutsofIndians:muchlessaretheytobefoundinthethoughtsofchildren，oranyimpressionsofthemonthemindsofnaturals。Theyarethelanguageandbusinessoftheschoolsandacademiesoflearnednations，accustomedtothatsortofconversationorlearning，wheredisputesarefrequent；thesemaximsbeingsuitedtoartificialargumentationandusefulforconviction，butnotmuchconducingtothediscoveryoftruthoradvancementofknowledge。ButoftheirsmallusefortheimprovementofknowledgeIshallhaveoccasiontospeakmoreatlarge，1。4，c。7。

28。Recapitulation。Iknownothowabsurdthismayseemtothemastersofdemonstration。Andprobablyitwillhardlygodownwithanybodyatfirsthearing。Imustthereforebegalittletrucewithprejudice，andtheforbearanceofcensure，tillIhavebeenheardoutinthesequelofthisDiscourse，beingverywillingtosubmittobetterjudgments。AndsinceIimpartiallysearchaftertruth，I

shallnotbesorrytobeconvinced，thatIhavebeentoofondofmyownnotions；whichIconfessweareallapttobe，whenapplicationandstudyhavewarmedourheadswiththem。

Uponthewholematter，IcannotseeanygroundtothinkthesetwospeculativeMaximsinnate:sincetheyarenotuniversallyassentedto；

andtheassenttheysogenerallyfindisnootherthanwhatseveralpropositions，notallowedtobeinnate，equallypartakeinwiththem:andsincetheassentthatisgiventhemisproducedanotherway，andcomesnotfromnaturalinscription，asIdoubtnotbuttomakeappearinthefollowingDiscourse。Andifthese"firstprinciples"

ofknowledgeandsciencearefoundnottobeinnate，nootherspeculativemaximscan(Isuppose)，withbetterrightpretendtobeso。