2 Sept 1804

Evidence

Ch. Explanations

To show at the same time that all that there is of reality in the case, where certainty and impossibility are attributed to the facts themselves, is the persuasion /the persuasion in question in such cases/ which exists in our own minds - and at the same time to show that this persuasion is sufficient for every practical purpose, I shall proceed to give a short and general view of the alledged impossibility in the character of a species of circumstantial evidence, operating in disproof of the existence of some corresponding principal fact alledged to be evidenced, the existence of which is on the other [.../] no matter from what source. By the view thus given of the subject (of impossibility) two propositions will I flatter myself all along appear. One is, that impossibility is merely relative - relative to the person by whom it is employed: in as much as the same[?] fact which to him /one/ is called impossible because to him it appears so /because he is persuaded of its being so/, might naturally to another man appear probable, or even to himself, at another time. The other is - that in so far as any fact thus really appears to him to be impossible, he is fully warranted, as well in point of prudence as of probity, in acting as if it really were impossible in its own nature: as if he had so full a comprehension of its nature that is of the nature of all things, as to be able to pronounce the[?] fact impossible, without the possibility of being deceived.