>>>>>Proof--Let A be something, which is common to all bodies,
and which is equally present in the part of any given body and
in the whole. I say A cannot be conceived except adequately.
For the idea thereof in God will necessarily be adequate (II.
vii. Cor.), both in so far as God has the idea of the human
body, and also in so far as he has the idea of the modifications
of the human body, which (II. xvi., xxv., xxvii.) involve in part
the nature of the human body and the nature of external bodies;
that is (II. xii., xiii.), the idea in God will necessarily be
adequate, both in so far as he constitutes the human mind, and in
so far as he has the ideas, which are in the human mind.
Therefore the mind (II. xi. Cor.) necessarily perceives A
adequately, and has this adequate perception, both in so far as
it perceives itself, and in so far as it perceives its own or
any external body, nor can A be conceived in any other manner.
Q.E.D.
<<<<<Corollary--Hence it follows that there are certain ideas or
notions common to all men; for (by Lemma ii.) all bodies agree
in certain respects, which (by the foregoing Prop.) must be
adequately or clearly and distinctly perceived by all.
XXXIX. That, which is common to and a property of the human body
and such other bodies as are wont to affect the human body, and
which is present equally in each part of either, or in the
whole, will be represented by an adequate idea in the mind.
>>>>>Proof--If A be that, which is common to and a property of
the human body and external bodies, and equally present in the
human body and in the said external bodies, in each part of each
external body and in the whole, there will be an adequate idea of
A in God (II. vii. Cor.), both in so far as he has the idea of
the human body, and in so far as he has the ideas of the given
external bodies. Let it now be granted, that the human body is
affected by an external body through that, which it has in common
therewith, namely, A; the idea of this modification will involve
the property A (II. xvi.), and therefore (II. vii. Cor.) the
idea of this modification, in so far as it involves the property
A, will be adequate in God, in so far as God is affected by the
idea of the human body; that is (II. xiii.), in so far as he
constitutes the nature of the human mind; therefore (II. xi.
Cor.) this idea is also adequate in the human mind. Q.E.D.
<<<<<Corollary--Hence it follows that the mind is fitted to
perceive adequately more things, in proportion as its body has
more in common with other bodies.
XL. Whatsoever ideas in the mind follow from ideas which are
therein adequate, are also themselves adequate.
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