Dialogue

  1 1|           there is no such thing as MATTER?~PHIL. Softly, good Hylas.
  2 1|            to wit, the existence of Matter? Since, for aught you can
  3 1|         consequently independent of Matter. The denial therefore of
  4 1|           HYL. That is no difficult matter. You know the least pain
  5 1|             insensible particles of matter.~PHIL. Colours then, in
  6 1|            derogate, the reality of Matter, or external objects; seeing
  7 1|             imaginable from denying Matter. For the clearer understanding
  8 1|           can be really inherent in Matter; not to mention the peculiar
  9 1|             What! is it not an easy matter to consider extension and
 10 1|            to think.~PHIL. For that matter, Hylas, you may take what
 11 1|       extension is only a mode, and Matter is something that supports
 12 1|           wrong. I do not mean that Matter is SPREAD in a gross literal
 13 1|      something by them. You tell me Matter supports or stands under
 14 1|            enough what was meant by Matter’s supporting accidents.
 15 1|           relative nor positive, of Matter; you know neither what it
 16 1|         over a certain distance: no matter whether it be exactly the
 17 2|        believe the same thing, what matter is it how we come by that
 18 2|           there not for all that be MATTER?~PHIL. How often must I
 19 2|        exists without the mind. The Matter, therefore, which you still
 20 2|            reasoning your belief of Matter is grounded on; and what
 21 2|          grounded on; and what this Matter is, in your present sense
 22 2|              whatever it be, I call Matter.~PHIL. Tell me, Hylas, hath
 23 2|         opinion.~PHIL. And doth not MATTER, in the common current acceptation
 24 2|           please, annex to the word MATTER a contrary meaning to what
 25 2|       reason can properly be termed Matter.~HYL. There is indeed something
 26 2|             action which belongs to Matter, viz. MOTION.~PHIL. I find
 27 2|         point entirely. But, though Matter may not be a cause, yet
 28 2|          Philonous. When I tell you Matter is an INSTRUMENT, I do not
 29 2|             no longer maintain that Matter is an instrument. However,
 30 2|             How many shapes is your Matter to take? Or, how often must
 31 2|          you mean by affirming that matter is an occasion, having already
 32 2|           different acceptations of MATTER, you have been only supposing
 33 2|            there is such a thing as MATTER.~PHIL. Either you perceive
 34 2|           you perceive the being of Matter immediately or mediately.
 35 2|            perception. Then for the Matter itself, I ask whether it
 36 2|            your notions, and making Matter to appear sometimes in one
 37 2|              upon. supposition that Matter exists, you can possibly
 38 2|            now, though there was no Matter in the world; neither can
 39 2|             I conceive, if there be Matter, how it should produce’
 40 2|           should be such a thing as matter in any of the foregoing
 41 2|             supposing that there is MATTER in some sense or other.
 42 2|           at least what is meant by Matter’s supporting them?~HYL.
 43 2|            at present understand by MATTER neither substance nor accident,
 44 2|           in your present notion of Matter nothing but the general
 45 2|            you suppose this unknown Matter to exist?~HYL. Oh Philonous!
 46 2|            put for the future about Matter.~PHIL. Since you will not
 47 2|          knowledge or conception of Matter, its WHERE, its HOW, its
 48 2|           speak of the existence of Matter, you have not any notion
 49 2|      interpreted proves NOTHING. So Matter comes to nothing. What think
 50 2|         surmise of I know not what, MATTER.~PHIL. But, are you not
 51 2|         perhaps you will still say, Matter may exist; though at the
 52 2|       neither know WHAT IS MEANT by MATTER, or by its EXISTENCE. This
 53 2|         thing in nature which needs Matter to explain or account for
 54 2|          supposing the existence of Matter. And is not this, think
 55 2|             to own the existence of matter is highly improbable; but
 56 2|           to me.~PHIL. But granting Matter to be possible, yet, upon
 57 2|            common sense of the word MATTER, is there any more implied
 58 2|          only one sense of the term MATTER.~PHIL. But is it not the
 59 2|             received sense? And, if Matter, in such a sense, be proved
 60 2|            not been allowed to take Matter in what sense you pleased?
 61 2|           to an unnecessary length; Matter having been particularly
 62 2|         proved the impossibility of Matter, in the last most obscure
 63 2|        indefinite sense of the word MATTER, it is plain, by your own
 64 2|             or the impossibility of Matter taken in an UNKNOWN sense,
 65 2|    acknowledge you have proved that Matter is impossible; nor do I
 66 3|           conceive the existence of Matter, notwithstanding I have
 67 3|            For you neither perceive Matter objectively, as you do an
 68 3|             which makes the case of MATTER widely different from that
 69 3| consistently, you must either admit Matter or reject Spirit. What say
 70 3|          believing the existence of Matter. I have no immediate intuition
 71 3|             to a rational belief of Matter. I say, lastly, that I have
 72 3|             existence or essence of Matter. On the contrary, I know
 73 3|           and that the existence of Matter implies an inconsistency.
 74 3|             case between Spirit and Matter.~HYL. I own myself satisfied
 75 3|          wont to ascribe to Nature, Matter, Fate, or the like unthinking
 76 3|      instrument or occasion, called MATTER, you as truly make Him the
 77 3|       actions.~HYL. But the denying Matter, Philonous, or corporeal
 78 3|           then I am more certain of matter’s existence than you or
 79 3|           formerly as positive that Matter existed, as you are now
 80 3|           be admitted; which I call MATTER, and you call SPIRIT. This
 81 3|             others to give the name MATTER to an unextended active
 82 3|          then, let it not be called Matter, since you will have it
 83 3|          THIRD NATURE distinct from Matter and Spirit. For what reason
 84 3|           have it to be Spirit, you Matter, or I know not what (I may
 85 3|     considered that the quantity of Matter has been demonstrated to
 86 3|        velocities and quantities of Matter contained in them. Hence,
 87 3|         directly as the quantity of Matter in each. But it is found
 88 3|     proportional to the quantity of Matter; which was to be demonstrated.~
 89 3|    proportional to the velocity and MATTER taken together; and this
 90 3|          gravity is proportional to MATTER, in your philosophic sense
 91 3|            suppose the existence of Matter?~PHIL. What mean you, Hylas,
 92 3|            our minds by the help of MATTER, I shall for ever acquiesce,
 93 3|         some positive conception of Matter, though we knew its qualities,
 94 3|             to believe the being of Matter, if there was no such thing?~
 95 3|          that extorts the belief of Matter? Nay, how does it appear,
 96 3|            how does it appear, that Matter, TAKEN FOR SOMETHING DISTINCT
 97 3|          upon your supposition—that Matter is an essential part of
 98 3|    reflexion with you: that whether Matter be allowed to exist or no,
 99 3|        philosophic acceptation, for Matter, or AN UNKNOWN QUIDDITY,
100 3|              but from the denial of Matter, of which there is not one
101 3|           from the non-existence of Matter, and are peculiar to that
102 3|             that the supposition of Matter, that is a thing perfectly
103 3|            that if the existence of Matter doth not make the creation
104 3|            evident the assertors of Matter destroy the plain obvious
105 3|        anything by it. But allowing Matter to exist, and the notion
106 3|           philosophers have thought Matter co-eternal with the Deity.
107 3|           cannot deny the belief of Matter to have very much the advantage
108 3|   contradictions hath the belief of Matter led men into! To say nothing
109 3|         universe? But, laying aside Matter and corporeal, causes, and
110 3|         IDEAS; God is a SPIRIT, but Matter an unintelligent, unperceiving
111 3|          active and omnipotent, but Matter an inert mass. If the order,
112 3|             wise and provident, but Matter destitute of all contrivance
113 3|        without the interposition of Matter, or unthinking second causes.—
114 3|       individuation, possibility of Matter’s thinking, origin of ideas,
115 3|             different as SPIRIT AND MATTER, should mutually operate
116 3|    confession, is that which denies Matter, or the ABSOLUTE existence
117 3|            But for the existence of Matter there is not one proof,
118 3|            one that is explained by Matter: nay, which is not more
119 3|           from the NON-EXISTENCE OF MATTER. If it doth not, you might
120 3|             on yours. Remember, the Matter you contend for is an Unknown
121 3|            THE QUESTION. In denying Matter, at first glimpse I am tempted
122 3|    therefore, of retaining the name MATTER, and applying it to SENSIBLE
123 3|           my heart: retain the word MATTER, and apply it to the objects
124 3|         with you for an expression. MATTER, or MATERIAL SUBSTANCE,
125 3|              are retained, the word MATTER should be never missed in
126 3|         privilege of using the word MATTER as I please, and annexing
127 3|         long accustomed to the term MATTER that I know not how to part
128 3|             it: to say, there is no MATTER in the world, is still shocking
129 3|          Whereas to say—There is no MATTER, if by that term be meant
130 3|         without the mind; but if by MATTER is meant some sensible thing,
131 3|            perceived, then there is MATTER:—THIS distinction gives
132 3|          all, the controversy about MATTER in the strict acceptation