date

25 Sept. 1814 Logic Ch. Ontology
25 Sept. 1814

Logic

Ch. Ontology

Entities real fictitious

7

7

Of ideas our perception is still more direct and immediate than that which we have of corporeal substances - of their existence our persuasion is more necessary and irresistible than that which we have of the existence of corporeal substances.

Speaking of Entities, ideas might perhaps accordingly be spoken of as the sole perceptible ones; substances, those of the corporeal class, being, with reference, and in contradistinction to them, no other than inferential ones.

But if substances themselves be the subject of the division, and for the designation of the two branches of the division the words perceptible and inferential be employed, it is to corporeal substances that the characteristic and differential attribute, perceptible, cannot but be applied: the term inferential being thereupon employed for the designation of incorporeal ones.

The more correct and complete the consideration bestowed, the more clearly will it be perceived, that from the existence of perceptions, viz. of sensible ones, the inference whereby the existence of incorporeal entities is inferred from the existence of perceptible entities, alias corporeal substances alias

bodies. Suppose the non-existence of corporeal substances, of any hard corporeal substance that stands opposite to you, make this supposition, and as soon as you have made it, act upon it, pain, the perception of pain, will at once bear witness against you; and that by your punishment, your condign punishment. Suppose the non-existence of any inferential incorporeal substances, of any one of them, or of all of them, and the supposition made, act upon it accordingly, - be the supposition conformable to the truth of the case, at any rate no such immediate counter-evidence, no such immediate punishment will take place /follow/.
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