Page:A Collection of Several Philosophical Writings of Dr. Henry More.djvu/60

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1. Sundry Instances arguing actual Knowledge in the Soul: as that she has a mere accurate Idea of a Circle and Triangle then Matter can exhibite to her: 2. And that upon one single consideration she assures her self of the Universal Affection of a Triangle. 3. The same argued from the nature of Mathematical and Logical Notions, which come not in by the Senses, as being no Physical affections of the Matter; 4. Because they are produced without any Physical motion upon the Matter; 5. And that contrary kindes may be intirely in one and the same part of Matter at once. 6. That there are certain sure Complex Notions of the Mind for which she was not beholden to Sense.

ND that this is the condition of the Soul is discoverable by sundry observations. As for example, Exhibite to the Soul through the outward Senses the figure of a Circle; she acknowledgeth presently this to be one kind of Figure, and can adde forthwith, that if it be perfect, all the lines from some one point of it drawn to the Perimeter must be exactly Equal. In like manner shew her a Triangle, she will straightway pronounce, that if that be the right figure it makes toward, the Angles must be closed in indivisible points. But this accuracy either in the Circle or the Triangle cannot be set out in any material Subject: therefore it remains that she hath a more full and exquisite knowledge of things in herself then the Matter can lay open before her.

2. Let us cast in a third Instance: Let some body now demonstrate this Triangle described in the Matterto have its three Angles equal to two right ones. Why yes, faith the Soul, this is true, and not only in this particular Triangle, but in all plain Triangles that can possibly be describ'd in the Matter. And thus, you see, the Soul sings out the whole Song upon the first hint, as knowing it very well before.

3. Besides this, there are a multitude of Relative Notions or Ideas in the Mind of Man, as well Mathematical as Logical, which if we prove cannot be the Impresses of any material Object from without, it will necessarily follow that they are from the Soul her self within, and are the natural furniture of humane Understanding. Such as are these, Cause, Effect, Whole and Part, Like and Unlike, and the rest. So Equality and Inequality, λόγος and ἁναλογία, Proportion and Analogy, Symmetry and Asymmetry, and such like: all which Relative Ideas I shall easily prove to be no material Impresses from without upon the Soul, but her own active conception proceeding from her self whilest she takes notice of external Objects. For that these Ideas can make no Impresses upon the outward Senses is plain from hence, because they are no sensible nor Physical affections of the Matter. And how can that that is no Physical affection of the Matter, affect our corporeal Organs of Sense?

But now that these Relative Ideas, whether Logical or Mathematical, be no Physical affections of the Matter, is manifest from these two