第 24 节
作者:老山文学      更新:2024-01-16 22:40      字数:6304
  indeed I deny they have an existence distinct from being
  perceived; or that they exist out of all minds whatsoever。 Think
  on these points; let them be attentively considered and still
  kept in view。 Otherwise you will not comprehend the state of the
  question; without which your objections {261} will always be wide
  of the mark; and; instead of mine; may possibly be directed (as
  more than once they have been) against your own notions。
  。 I must needs own; Philonous; nothing seems to have
  kept me from agreeing with you more than this same 。 In denying Matter;。 at first; glimpse I am tempted to
  imagine you deny the things we see and feel: but; upon reflexion;
  find there is no ground for it。 What think you; therefore; of
  retaining the name ; and applying it to ? This may be done without any change in your sentiments:
  and; believe me; it would be a means of reconciling them to some
  persons who may be more shocked at an innovation in words than in
  opinion。
  。 With all my heart: retain the word ; and
  apply it to the objects of sense; if you please; provided you do
  not attribute to them any subsistence distinct from their being
  perceived。 I shall never quarrel with you for an expression。
  ; or ; are terms introduced by
  philosophers; and; as used by them; imply a sort of independency;
  or a subsistence distinct from being perceived by a mind: but are
  never used by common people; or; if ever; it is to signify the
  immediate objects of sense。 One would think; therefore; so long
  as the names of all particular things; with the ;
  ; ; ; and the like; are retained; the
  word  should be never missed in common talk。 And in
  philosophical discourses it seems the best way to leave it quite
  out: since there is not; perhaps; any one thing that hath more
  favoured and strengthened the depraved bent of the mind towards
  Atheism than the use of that general confused term。
  。 Well but; Philonous; since I am content to give up
  the notion of an unthinking substance exterior to the mind; I
  think you ought not to deny me the privilege of using the word
  as I please; and annexing it to a collection of sensible
  qualities subsisting only in the mind。 I freely own there is no
  other substance; in a strict sense; than 。 But I have
  been so long accustomed to the  that I know not how
  to part with it: to say; there is no  in the world; is
  still shocking to me。 Whereas to say  There is no ; if
  by that term be meant an unthinking substance existing without
  the mind; but if by  is meant some sensible thing; whose
  existence consists in being perceived; then there is :
  distinction gives it quite another turn; and men will come
  into your notions with {262} small difficulty; when they are
  proposed in that manner。 For; after all; the controversy about
  in the strict acceptation of it; lies altogether between
  you and the philosophers: whose principles; I acknowledge; are
  not near so natural; or so agreeable to the common sense of
  mankind; and Holy Scripture; as yours。 There is nothing we either
  desire or shun but as it makes; or is apprehended to make; some
  part of our happiness or misery。 But what hath happiness or
  misery; joy or grief; pleasure or pain; to do with Absolute
  Existence; or with unknown entities; ? It is evident; things regard us only as they are pleasing
  or displeasing: and they can please or displease only so far
  forth as they are perceived。 Farther; therefore; we are not
  concerned; and thus far you leave things as you found them。 Yet
  still there is something new in this doctrine。 It is plain; I do
  not now think with the Philosophers; nor yet altogether with the
  vulgar。 I would know how the case stands in that respect;
  precisely; what you have added to; or altered in my former
  notions。
  。 I do not pretend to be a setter…up of new notions。
  My endeavours tend only to unite; and place in a clearer light;
  that truth which was before shared between the vulgar and the
  philosophers:  the former being of opinion; that ; and the latter;
  that ; 。 Which two notions put together; do; in effect;
  constitute the substance of what I advance。
  。 I have been a long time distrusting my senses:
  methought I saw things by a dim light and through false glasses。
  Now the glasses are removed and a new light breaks in upon my
  under standing。 I am clearly convinced that I see things in their
  native forms; and am no longer in pain about their 。 This is the state I find myself
  in at present; though; indeed; the course that brought me to it I
  do not yet thoroughly comprehend。 You set out upon the same
  principles that Academics; Cartesians; and the like sects usually
  do; and for a long time it looked as if you were advancing their
  philosophical Scepticism: but; in the end; your conclusions are
  directly opposite to theirs。
  。 You see; Hylas; the water of yonder fountain; how it
  is forced upwards; in a round column; to a certain height; at
  {263} which it breaks; and falls back into the basin from whence
  it rose: its ascent; as well as descent; proceeding from the same
  uniform law or principle of gravitation。 just so; the same
  Principles which; at first view; lead to Scepticism; pursued to a
  certain point; bring men back to Common Sense。
  Notes:
  '2''Text within brackets is not contained in the first and second
  editions。'
  '3''〃Size or figure; or sensible quality〃  〃size; colour; &c;〃
  in the first and second
  editions。'
  '4''〃In stones and minerals〃  in first and second editions。'
  '5''The passage within brackets first appeared in the third
  edition。'
  '6''0mitted in last edition。'
  '7'〃Tell me; Hylas;〃  〃So Hylas〃  in first and second
  editions。'
  '8''This important passage; printed within brackets; is not found
  in the first and second editions of the Didogues。 It is; by
  anticipation; Berkeley's answer to Hume's application of the
  objections to the reality of abstract or unperceived Matter; to
  the reality of the Ego or Self; of which we are aware through
  memory; as identical amid the changes of its successive states。…
  A。 C。 F。'
  '9''The words within brackets are omitted in the third edition。'
  '10''Omitted in authoes last edition。'
  '11''In the first and second editions only。'
  The End