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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1885 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP. XXIII. Its queried whether there be any Science in the sense of the Dogmatists: (1.) We cannot know any thing to be the cause of another, but from its attending it; and this way is not infallible; declared by instances, especially from the Philosophy of Des-Cartes. All things are mixt; and 'tis difficult to assign each Cause its distinct Effects. (2.) There's no demonstration but where the contrary is impossible. And we can scarce conclude so of any thing. CONFIDENCE of Science is one great reason, we miss it: For on this account presuming we have it every where, we seek it not where it is; and therefore fall short of the object of our Enquiry. Now to give further check to Dogmatical pretensions, and to discover the vanity of assuming Ignorance; we'll make a short enquiry, whether there be any such thing as Science in the sense of its Assertours. In their notion then, It is the knowledge of things in their true, immediate, necessary causes: Upon which I'le advance the following Observations. 1. All Knowledge of Causes is deductive: for we know none by simple intuition; but through the mediation of their effects. So that we cannot conclude, any thing to be the cause of another; but from its continual accompanying it: for the causality it self is insensible. But now to argue from a concomitancy to a causality, is not infallibly conclusive: Yea in this way lies notorious delusion. For suppose, for instance, we had never seen more Sun, then in a cloudy day; and that the lesser lights had ne're appeared: Let us suppose the day had alway broke with a wind, and had proportionably varyed, as that did: Had not he been a notorious Sceptick, that should question the causality? But we need not be beholding to so remote a supposition: The...

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This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.