An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1: MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 1 and 2Locke, John
Philosophy
An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, Volume 1: MDCXC, Based on the 2nd Edition, Books 1 and 2
Locke, John
Knowledge, Theory of -- Early works to 1800
This space, considered barely in length between any two beings, without
considering anything else between them, is called DISTANCE: if
considered in length, breadth, and thickness, I think it may be called
CAPACITY. When considered between the extremities of matter, which
fills the capacity of space with something solid, tangible, and
moveable, it is properly called EXTENSION. And so extension is an idea
belonging to body only; but space may, as is evident, be considered
without it. At least I think it most intelligible, and the best way to
avoid confusion, if we use the word extension for an affection of
matter or the distance of the extremities of particular solid bodies;
and space in the more general signification, for distance, with or
without solid matter possessing it.
4. Immensity.
Each different distance is a different modification of space; and each
idea of any different distance, or space, is a SIMPLE MODE of this
idea. Men having, by accustoming themselves to stated lengths of space,
which they use for measuring other distances—as a foot, a yard or a
fathom, a league, or diameter of the earth—made those ideas familiar to
their thoughts, can, in their minds, repeat them as often as they will,
without mixing or joining to them the idea of body, or anything else;
and frame to themselves the ideas of long, square, or cubic feet, yards
or fathoms, here amongst the bodies of the universe, or else beyond the
utmost bounds of all bodies; and, by adding these still one to another,
enlarge their ideas of space as much as they please. The power of
repeating or doubling any idea we have of any distance, and adding it
to the former as often as we will, without being ever able to come to
any stop or stint, let us enlarge it as much as we will, is that which
gives us the idea of IMMENSITY.
5. Figure.
There is another modification of this idea, which is nothing but the
relation which the parts of the termination of extension, or
circumscribed space, have amongst themselves. This the touch discovers
in sensible bodies, whose extremities come within our reach; and the
eye takes both from bodies and colours, whose boundaries are within its
view: where, observing how the extremities terminate,—either in
straight lines which meet at discernible angles, or in crooked lines
wherein no angles can be perceived; by considering these as they relate
to one another, in all parts of the extremities of any body or space,
it has that idea we call FIGURE, which affords to the mind infinite
variety. For, besides the vast number of different figures that do
really exist in the coherent masses of matter, the stock that the mind
has in its power, by varying the idea of space, and thereby making
still new compositions, by repeating its own ideas, and joining them as
it pleases, is perfectly inexhaustible. And so it can multiply figures
IN INFINITUM.
6. Endless variety of figures.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account