Having by these divisions given an order and arrangement to our objects, we may now apply ourselves to consider with the more accuracy their qualities and relations. Though a particular colour, taste, and smell, are qualities all united together in this apple, it is easy to perceive they are not the same, but are at least distinguishable from each other. The complex are the contrary to these, and may be distinguished into parts. Simple perceptions or impressions and ideas are such as admit of no distinction nor separation. This division is into SIMPLE and COMPLEX. There is another division of our perceptions, which it will be convenient to observe, and which extends itself both to our impressions and ideas. But notwithstanding this near resemblance in a few instances, they are in general so very different, that no-one can make a scruple to rank them under distinct heads, and assign to each a peculiar name to mark the difference. Thus in sleep, in a fever, in madness, or in any very violent emotions of soul, our ideas may approach to our impressions, As on the other hand it sometimes happens, that our impressions are so faint and low, that we cannot distinguish them from our ideas. The common degrees of these are easily distinguished though it is not impossible but in particular instances they may very nearly approach to each other. Every one of himself will readily perceive the difference betwixt feeling and thinking. I believe it will not be very necessary to employ many words in explaining this distinction. By ideas I mean the faint images of these in thinking and reasoning such as, for instance, are all the perceptions excited by the present discourse, excepting only those which arise from the sight and touch, and excepting the immediate pleasure or uneasiness it may occasion. Those perceptions, which enter with most force and violence, we may name impressions: and under this name I comprehend all our sensations, passions and emotions, as they make their first appearance in the soul.
The difference betwixt these consists in the degrees of force and liveliness, with which they strike upon the mind, and make their way into our thought or consciousness. All the perceptions of the human mind resolve themselves into two distinct kinds, which I shall call IMPRESSIONS and IDEAS.
0 kommentar(er)
