Another version of this material at 29,806-151.

15 Nov r 1813  Omitt this page? 5 Aug 1815?

Antimir Price & Campbel

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Campbel

Ch 1 Beginning

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The This sentence crossed through in pencil. Unreasonableness of Credulity: or Improbability a just cause of disbelief: or Campbel and Price—their reasons for the belief of what is improbable examined.

Of two incompatible—i.e. mutually incompatible states of things, that is most worthy of evidence—say in one word credence- worthy,+ which is most

probable; or what comes to the same thing, least

improbable?

That to the truth of this proposition any objection should ever have been made is what upon the first mention of it a man would be apt not to look upon as possible. The contrary however will be found but too plainly manifested by experience.

By one or more persons in the alledged character of percipient witnesses a certain state of things is reported as having at a particular point of time in a particular local situation been manifested. Of the state of things, the existence of which is thus reported to me shall I believe or disbelieve the existence? Upon what circumstance will my option between belief and disbelief depend? As to belief upon authority: in the present case this is out of the question: for, in so far as authority is trusted to, option has no place.

In the present case therefore let the [...?] belief and disbelief in question be of the indigenous kind. This supposed, my answer can be no other than this: upon the comparative degree of probability between the two proposed opposite and incompatible facts the exemplification of the state of things thus reported, and the falsity of the report or narrative by which it is declared to have had place.

Note (a)?

+ (a) Credible means—not fitness for, but capacity of being believed, incredible, incapacity of being believed. In this sense what the use made of the termination -ble Latin—bilis considered as the only purpose, an incredible proposition is a sort of proposition that would not be to be found any where exemplified.