第 9 节
作者:老山文学      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:8919
  objects; perceived by the mediation of ideas; which are their
  images and representations。 Now; I own ideas do not exist without
  the mind; but the latter sort of objects do。 I am sorry I did not
  think of this distinction sooner; it would probably have cut
  short your discourse。
  。 Are those external objects perceived by sense or by
  some other faculty?
  。 They are perceived by sense。
  。 Howl Is there any thing perceived by sense which is
  not immediately perceived?
  。 Yes; Philonous; in some sort there is。 For example;
  when I look on a picture or statue of Julius Caesar; I may be
  said after a manner to perceive him (though not immediately) by
  my senses。
  。 It seems then you will have our ideas; which alone
  are immediately perceived; to be pictures of external things: and
  that these also are perceived by sense; inasmuch as they have a
  conformity or resemblance to our ideas?
  。 That is my meaning。
  。 And; in the same way that Julius Caesar; in himself
  invisible; is nevertheless perceived by sight; real things; in
  themselves imperceptible; are perceived by sense。
  。 In the very same。
  。 Tell me; Hylas; when you behold the picture of
  Julius Caesar; do you see with your eyes any more than some
  colours and figures; with a certain symmetry and composition of
  the whole?
  。 Nothing else。
  。 And would not a man who had never known anything of
  Julius Caesar see as much? {204}
  。 He would。
  。 Consequently he hath his sight; and the use of it;
  in as perfect a degree as you?
  。 I agree with you。
  。 Whence comes it then that your thoughts are directed
  to the Roman emperor; and his are not? This cannot proceed from
  the sensations or ideas of sense by you then perceived; since you
  acknowledge you have no advantage over him in that respect。 It
  should seem therefore to proceed from reason and memory: should
  it not?
  。 It should。
  。 Consequently; it will not follow from that instance
  that anything is perceived by sense which is not; immediately
  perceived。 Though I grant we may; in one acceptation; be said to
  perceive sensible things mediately by sense: that is; when; from
  a frequently perceived connexion; the immediate perception of
  ideas by one sense  to the mind others; perhaps
  belonging to another sense; which are wont to be connected with
  them。 For instance; when I hear a coach drive along the streets;
  immediately I perceive only the sound; but; from the experience I
  have had that such a sound is connected with a coach; I am said
  to hear the coach。 It is nevertheless evident that; in truth and
  strictness; nothing can be ; and the coach is
  not then properly perceived by sense; but suggested from
  experience。 So likewise when we are said to see a red…hot bar of
  iron; the solidity and heat of the iron are not the objects of
  sight; but suggested to the imagination by the colour and figure
  which are properly perceived by that sense。 In short; those
  things alone are actually and strictly perceived by any sense;
  which would have been perceived in case that same sense had then
  been first conferred on us。 As for other things; it is plain they
  are only suggested to the mind by experience; grounded on former
  perceptions。 But; to return to your comparison of Caesar's
  picture; it is plain; if you keep to that; you must hold the real
  things; or archetypes of our ideas; are not perceived by sense;
  but by some internal faculty of the soul; as reason or memory。 I
  would therefore fain know what arguments you can draw from reason
  for the existence of what you call 。 Or; whether you remember to have seen them formerly as
  they are in themselves; or; if you have heard or read of any one
  that did。 {205}
  。 I see; Philonous; you are disposed to raillery; but
  that will never convince me。
  。 My aim is only to learn from you the way to come at
  the knowledge of 。 Whatever we perceive is
  perceived immediately or mediately: by sense; or by reason and
  reflexion。 But; as you have excluded sense; pray shew me what
  reason you have to believe their existence; or what  you
  can possibly make use of to prove it; either to mine or your own
  understanding。
  。 To deal ingenuously; Philonous; now I consider the
  point; I do not find I can give you any good reason for it。 But;
  thus much seems pretty plain; that it is at least possible such
  things may really exist。 And; as long as there is no absurdity in
  supposing them; I am resolved to believe as I did; till you bring
  good reasons to the contrary。
  。 What! Is it come to this; that you only
  the existence of material objects; and that your belief is
  founded barely on the possibility of its being true? Then you
  will have me bring reasons against it: though another would think
  it reasonable the proof should lie on him who holds the
  affirmative。 And; after all; this very point which you are now
  resolved to maintain; without any reason; is in effect what you
  have more than once during this discourse seen good reason to
  give up。 But; to pass over all this; if I understand you rightly;
  you say our ideas do not exist without the mind; but that they
  are copies; images; or representations; of certain originals that
  do?
  。 You take me right。
  。 They are then like external things?
  。 They are。
  。 Have those things a stable and permanent nature;
  independent of our senses; or are they in a perpetual change;
  upon our producing any motions in our bodies  suspending;
  exerting; or altering; our faculties or organs of sense?
  。 Real things; it is plain; have a fixed and real
  nature; which remains the same notwithstanding any change in our
  senses; or in the posture and motion of our bodies; which indeed
  may affect the ideas in our minds; but it were absurd to think
  they had the same effect on things existing without the mind。
  。 How then is it possible that things perpetually
  fleeting and variable as our ideas should be copies or images of
  anything fixed and constant? Or; in other words; since all
  sensible {206} qualities; as size; figure; colour; &c。; that is;
  our ideas; are continually changing; upon every alteration in the
  distance; medium; or instruments of sensation; how can any
  determinate material objects be properly represented or painted
  forth by several distinct things; each of which is so different
  from and unlike the rest? Or; if you say it resembles some one
  only of our ideas; how shall we be able to distinguish the true
  copy from all the false ones?
  。 I profess; Philonous; I am at a loss。 I know not what
  to say to this。
  。 But neither is this all。 Which are material objects
  in themselves  perceptible or imperceptible?
  。 Properly and immediately nothing can be perceived but
  ideas。 All material things; therefore; are in themselves
  insensible; and to be perceived only by our ideas。
  。 Ideas then are sensible; and their archetypes or
  originals insensible?
  。 Right。
  。 But how can that which is sensible be like that
  which is insensible? Can a real thing; in itself ; be
  like a ; or a real thing; which is not ; be like
  a ? In a word; can anything be like a sensation or idea;
  but another sensation or idea?
  。 I must own; I think not。
  。 Is it possible there should be any doubt on the
  point? Do。 you not perfectly know your own ideas?
  。 I know them perfectly; since what I do not perceive
  or know can be no part of my idea。
  。 Consider; therefore; and examine them; and then tell
  me if there be anything in them which can exist without the mind:
  or if you can conceive anything like them existing without the
  mind。
  。 Upon inquiry; I find it is impossible for me to
  conceive or understand how anything but an idea can be like an
  idea。 And it is most evident that 。
  。 You are therefore; by your principles; forced to
  deny the  of sensible things; since you made it to
  consist in an absolute existence exterior to the mind。 That is to
  say; you are a downright sceptic。 So I have gained my point;
  which was to shew your principles led to Scepticism。 {207}
  。 For the present I am; if not entirely convinced; at
  least silenced。
  。 I would fain know what more you would require in
  order to a perfect conviction。 Have you not had the liberty of
  explaining yourself all manner of ways? Were any little slips in
  discourse laid hold and insisted on? Or were you not allowed to
  retract or reinforce anything you had offered; as best served
  your purpose? Hath not everything you could say been heard and
  examined with all the fairness imaginable? In a word have you not
  in every point been convinced out of your own mouth? And; if you
  can at present discover any flaw in any of your former
  concessions; or