1819 May 11

Jug. Util […?] & Sub Rev in gross

II Verity in gross

§ 7 Mind fictitious entity

A moments reflection would suffice to assure us that this is not – can not be – the case: for if so, we should have /possess/ and not have but exercise an unlimited power of creation: by every word newly made or newly applied a new being would be created.

Hence in regard to those words that are employed as names – nouns substantive they are called in grammar – hence the necessity of the distinction between such as are names of real entities and such as are names of fictitious entities. Names of real entities are names of those objects of which through the medium of the senses the existence is made known to us by experience or observation: names of fictitious entities are names of all objects of which the existence is not made known to us through experience or observation: For the most part though the existence of these is in this way asserted, it is not in truth so much as supposed. We make these assertions because though they are neither true nor so much as supposed to be true, discourse could not be carried on without them: and though they are so clearly untrue, and the objects which are the subjects of them are therefore in this sense not real but fictitious objects, the offspring of fiction, yet in this instance fiction is without blame or regret: why without blame or regret? because deception is neither the object endeavoured to be produced nor the effect actually produced.