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
Time in general is to duration as place to expansion. They are so much
of those boundless oceans of eternity and immensity as is set out and
distinguished from the rest, as it were by landmarks; and so are made
use of to denote the position of FINITE real beings, in respect one to
another, in those uniform infinite oceans of duration and space. These,
rightly considered, are only ideas of determinate distances from
certain known points, fixed in distinguishable sensible things, and
supposed to keep the same distance one from another. From such points
fixed in sensible beings we reckon, and from them we measure our
portions of those infinite quantities; which, so considered, are that
which we call TIME and PLACE. For duration and space being in
themselves uniform and boundless, the order and position of things,
without such known settled points, would be lost in them; and all
things would lie jumbled in an incurable confusion.
6. Time and Place are taken for so much of either as are set out by the
Existence and Motion of Bodies.
Time and place, taken thus for determinate distinguishable portions of
those infinite abysses of space and duration, set out or supposed to be
distinguished from the rest, by marks and known boundaries, have each
of them a twofold acceptation.
FIRST, Time in general is commonly taken for so much of infinite
duration as is measured by, and co-existent with, the existence and
motions of the great bodies of the universe, as far as we know anything
of them: and in this sense time begins and ends with the frame of this
sensible world, as in these phrases before mentioned, ‘Before all
time,’ or, ‘When time shall be no more.’ Place likewise is taken
sometimes for that portion of infinite space which is possessed by and
comprehended within the material world; and is thereby distinguished
from the rest of expansion; though this may be more properly called
extension than place. Within these two are confined, and by the
observable parts of them are measured and determined, the particular
time or duration, and the particular extension and place, of all
corporeal beings.
7. Sometimes for so much of either as we design by Measures taken from
the Bulk or Motion of Bodies.
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