An Essay Towards a New Theory of VisionBerkeley, George
Philosophy
An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision
Berkeley, George
Vision -- Early works to 1800
108. In order to get clear of this seeming difficulty we need only
observe that diversity of visible objects doth not necessarily infer
diversity of tangible objects corresponding to them. A picture painted
with great variety of colours affects the touch in one uniform manner; it
is therefore evident that I do not by any necessary consecution,
independent of experience, judge of the number of things tangible from
the number of things visible. I should not, therefore, at first opening
my eyes conclude that because I see two I shall feel two. How, therefore,
can I, before experience teaches me, know that the visible legs, because
two, are connected with the tangible legs, or the visible head, because
one, is connected with the tangible head? The truth is, the things I see
are so very different and heterogeneous from the things I feel that the
perception of the one would never have suggested the other to my
thoughts, or enabled me to pass the least judgment thereon, until I had
experienced their connexion.
109. But for a fuller illustration of this matter it ought to be
considered that number (however some may reckon it amongst the primary
qualities) is nothing fixed and settled, really existing in things
themselves. It is entirely the creature of the mind, considering either
an idea by itself, or any combination of ideas to which it gives one
name, and so makes it pass for an unit. According as the mind variously
combines its ideas the unit varies: and as the unit, so the number, which
is only a collection of units, doth also vary. We call a window one, a
chimney one, and yet a house in which there are many windows and many
chimneys hath an equal right to be called one, and many houses go to the
making of the city. In these and the like, instances it is evident the
unit constantly relates to the particular draughts the mind makes of its
ideas, to which it affixes names, and wherein it includes more or less as
best suits its own ends and purposes. Whatever, therefore, the mind
considers as one, that is an unit. Every combination of ideas is
considered as one thing by the mind, and in token thereof is marked by
one name. Now, this naming and combining together of ideas is perfectly
arbitrary, and done by the mind in such sort as experience shows it to be
most convenient: without which our ideas had never been collected into
such sundry distinct combinations as they now are.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account