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CAP. 15.
Of the great error of inquiring knowledge in
Anticipations. That I call Anticipations the voluntary collections that the
mind maketh of knowledge; which is every man's reason. That though this be
a solemn thing, and serves the turn to negotiate between man and man
(because of the conformity and participation of men's minds in the like
errors), yet towards inquiry of the truth of things and works it is of no
value. That civil respects are a lett that this pretended reason should not
be so contemptibly spoken of as were fit and medicinable, in regard that
hath been too much exalted and glorified, to the infinite detriment of
man's estate. Of the nature of words and their facility and aptness to
cover and grace the defects of Anticipations. That it is no marvel if these
Anticipations have brought forth such diversity and repugnance in opinions,
theories, or philosophies, as so many fables of several arguments. That had
not the nature of civil customs and government been in most times somewhat
adverse to such innovations, though contemplative, there might have been
and would have been many more. That the second school of the Academics and
the sect of Pyrrho, or the considerers that denied comprehension, as to the
disabling of man's knowledge (entertained in Anticipations) is well to be
allowed, but that they ought when they had overthrown and purged the floor
of the ruins to have sought to build better in place. And more especially
that they did unjustly and prejudicially to charge the deceit upon the
report of the senses, which admitteth very sparing remedy; being indeed to
have been charged upon the Anticipations of the mind, which admitteth a
perfect remedy. That the information of the senses is sufficient, not
because they err not, but because the use of the sense in discovering of
knowledge is for the most part not immediate. So that it is the work,
effect, or instance, that trieth the Axiom, and the sense doth but try the
work done or not done, being or not being. That the mind of man in
collecting knowledge needeth great variety of helps, as well as the hand of
man in manual and mechanical practices needeth great variety of
instruments. And that it were a poor work that if instruments were removed
men would overcome with their naked hands. And of the distinct points of
want and insufficiency in the mind of man.
[@ Works III, 244-5]
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