Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding (Volume 2-4); Books II and IV (with Omissions) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1905. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... them, and show how the ideas we have of them are derived from sensation and reflection. CHAPTER XXI. OF POWER. I. This idea how got.-- The mind being every day informed, by the senses, of the alteration of those sim- pie ideas it observes in things without, and taking notice how one comes to an end and ceases to be, and another begins to exist which was not before; reflecting also, on what passes within itself, and observing a constant change of its ideas, sometimes by the impression of outward objects on the senses, and sometimes by the determination of its own choice; and concluding, from what it has so constantly observed to have been, that the like changes will for the future be made in the same things by like agents, and by the like ways; considers in one thing the possibility of having any of its simple ideas changed, and in another the possibility of making that change; and so comes by that idea which we call "power." Thus we say, fire has a power to melt gold; i. e., to destroy the consistency of its insensible parts, and consequently its hardness, and make it fluid; and gold has a power to DEGREES be melted: that the sun has a power to blanch wax; DEGREES and wax a power to be blanched by the sun, whereby the yellowness is destroyed, and whiteness made to ex-fist in its room. In which and the like cases, the power DEGREES we consider is in reference to the change of perceivable ideas: for we cannot observe any alteration to be made in, or operation upon, any thing, but by the observable change of its sensible ideas: nor conceive any altera tion to be made, but by conceiving a change of some of its ideas. 2. Power active and passive.-- Power thus considered is twofold; viz., as able to make, or able to receive, any change; the one may be called " active," and the ...