Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 2.djvu/212

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MOD

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MOD

External Modes are thofe extraneous to the Subject ; as when we fay a thing is defir'd, lov'd, beheld, l$c. Thefe coincide with what we call Relations.

Add, that there are Modes which are likewife SuMtances, as Apparel, Hair, gfe. which may fubfift without the Subjeft.

Mr. Lock divides Modes into Simple and Compound.

Simple Modes are Combinations of fimple Ideas of the fame Kind, or even of the fame fimple Ideas divers times repeated ; ks a Dozen, a Score, ££V* which are only the Ideas of fo many dillinft Units put together.

Mixed Modes are Combinations of inn pie Ideas of fe- veral Kinds 5 as in Beauty, which confills in a certain Compofition of Colour, Figure, &c. Theft, which is the conceal'd Change of the Poffeffion of any thing without tonfent of the Proprietor £•?(".

With regard to Simple Modes 5 that Author obferves, that the Modifications of any fimple Idea are as perfectly different and diltinft Ideas in the Mind as thofe the molt remote and inconfiftent, Thus two is as diftinft from tbree t as Blindnefs from heat. With this View he examines the Simple Modes of Space.

Space is a fimple Idea, which we get both by Sight and Touch : When we confider it barely in Length between two Bodies, it is call'd Difiance j When in Length, Breadth, and Thicknefs, it may be call'd Capacity : When confider'd between the Extremities of Matter, which fills the Capacity of Space with fo me thing folid, tangible, and moveable, it is call'd Extenfion 5 and thus Extenfion will bean Idea belonging to Body: But Space maybe con- ceived without it. Each different Diftance is a different Modification of Space ; and each Idea of any different Space, is a fimple Mode of this Idea. Such are an Inch, Foot, Yard, ££c. which are the Ideas of certain {fated Lengths, which Men fettle in their Minds for the Ufe, and by the Cufrom of Meafuring. When thefe Ideas are made familiar to Men's Thoughts, they can in their Minds repeat them as often as they will, without joining to them the Idea of Body, and frame to themfelves the Ideas of Feet, Yards, and Fathoms, beyond the utmoft Bounds of all Bodies, and by adding thefe ftill to one another, in- large their Idea of Space, as much as they pleafe.

From this Power of repeating any Idea of Diftance, with- out being ever able to come to an end, we come by the Idea of Immenfity. See Extension, Distance, Mea- sure, ££jc.

Another Mode, or Modification of Space, is taken from the relation of the Parts of the Termination of Extenfion, or circumfcrib'd Space amongft themfelves ; and this is what we call Figure. This, the Touch difcovers in fenfible Bodies, whofe Extremities come within our reach ; and the Eye takes, both from Bodiesand Colours whofe Boun- daries are within its view ; where, obferving how the Ex- tremities terminate, either in ftreight Lines, which meet at difcernible Angles ; or in crooked Lines, wherein no Angles can be perceived; by confidering thefe as they re- late to one another in all parts of the Extremities of any Body or Space, it has the Idea we call Figure: Which affords to the Mind infinite Variety. See Figure.

Another Mode belonging to this Head, is that of Place. Our Idea of Place is nothing but the relative Pofition of any thing, with reference to its diftance from fome fixed and certain Points : Whence we fay, that a thing has, or has not changed Place, when its diftance either is, or is nor altcr'd with refpect to thofe Bodies, with which we have occafion to compare it. That this is fo, we may eafily gather from hence 5 that we can have no Idea of the Place of the Univerfe ; tho we can of all its Parts* See Place.

Another Mode of Space, is the Idea which we get from the fleeting, and perpetually perifhing Parrs of Succeflion, which we call Duration. The Simple Modes of it are any different Lengths of it, whereof we have diftinft Ideas, as Hours, Days, Years, &c. Time, and Eternity. The Idea of Succsjfion is got by reflecting on that train of Ideas, which constantly follow one another in our Minds, as long as we are awake. See Succession.

The diftance between any Parts of this Succeflion is what we call Duration : And the Continuation of the Ex- igence of ourfelvcs, or any thing elfecommenfurare to the Succeffion of any Ideas in our Minds, is what we call our own Duration, or that of another thing co-exitting with our thinking.

A Man having once got mis Idea of Duration, can apply it to things which exiif, while he doth not think : And thus we meafure the time of our Sleep, as well as that wherein we are awake. See Duration.

In regard to fomeother Simple Modes, Mr. Loch obferves, That the Mind has fevcral difHnft Ideas of Sliding, Rol- ling, Walking, Creeping, ££c which are all but the diffe- rent Modifications of Motion. Swift and Slow are two different Ideas of Motion, the Meafures whereof are made

out of the Distances of Time and Space put together- The like Variety we have in Sounds ; every articulate Word is a different Modification of Sound, as are all Notes of different length put together, which make that com- plex Idea call'd Time. See Ti m e.

The Modes of Colours might bealfo very various j fome of which we take notice of as the different Degrees, or as they are termed, Shades of the fame Colour. But fince we feldom make Affemblagcs of Culours without taking in Figure alfo, as in Painting, g£c. thofe which are taken°no- tice of, do moit commonly belong to mix'd Modes, as Beauty, Rainbow, &c. All compounded Taltes and Smells are alfo Modes made up of the fimple Ideas of thofe Senfey,

t As to the Modes of Thinking ; when the Mind turns its, view inward upon kfelf, Thinking is the firil Idea that occurs, whertin it objetfea a great Variety of Modifications 5 and therefore frames to itfeU diftinft Ideas.

Thus the Perception annex'd to any Impreffion on the Body made by an external Object, is call'd Senfathn. Where an Idea recurs without the pre fence of the Object, it is call'd Remembrance. When fought after by the Mind, and brought again in view, it is call'd KecolleSion. When held there long under attentive Confiderations, it is call'd Contemplation. When Ideas float in the Mind without re- gard or reflection, it is call'd in French, Rej-very. When the Ideas are taken notice of, and, as it were, regifter'd in the Memory, it is Attention. When the Mind fixes its view on any on-3 Idea, and confiders it on all fides, it is Intention and Study.

Of thefe various Modes of Thinking, the Mind forms as - diftinct Ideas, as it does of White and Red, a Square, or a Circle.

For Mix'd Modes, there are three wayswhereby we get the complex Ideas thereof. 1. By Experience and Obfer- vation of things themfelves ; thus by feeing two Men wreftle, we get the Idea of W refiling. 2. By Invention, or voluntary putting together of" feveral fimple Ideas in our own Minds j fo he that firft invented Printing, had an Idea of it firll in his Mind, before ever it exifted. 3. By ex- plaining the Names of Aftions we nev^r faw, or Notions we cannot fee ; and by enumerating all thofe Ideas, which go to the making them up : Thus the mix'd Mode which the Word i-ieftandsfor, is made upof thefe fimple Id^as : (1.) Articulate Sounds. (2.) Certain Ideas in the Mind of the Speaker. (3.) Thofe Words, the Signs of thefe Ideas. (4.) Thofe Signs put together by Affirmation, or Nega- tion, other wife than- the Ideas they {land for are in the Mind of the Speaker.

Mixt Modes have their Unity from an Aft cf the Mind, combining thofe feveral fimple Ideas together^ and confi- dering them as one complex one: The Mark of rhis Union is one Name given to that Combination. Men feldom rec- kon any number of Ideas to make one complex one, but fuch Collections, as there be names for. Thus, the Killing of an old Man is as fit to be united in one complex Idea, as that of a Father ; yet there being no Name for it, it is not taken for a particular complex Idea; nor a diltincT: Species of Aft ton from that of Killing any other Man % 1 hofe Collections of Ideas have Names generally affixed, which are of frequent ufe in Converfation ; in which Cafes Men endeavour to communicate their Thoughts to one another, with all pofiible difpatch. Thofe others, which they have feldom occafion to mention, they lay not together, nor give them Names.

This gives the Reafon, why there are Words in every Language, which cannot be rendred by any one fingle Word of another. For the Fafhions and Cufloms of one Nation make feveral Combinations of Ideas familiar in one, which another had never any occafion to make. Such were, wrgpuvubd among the Gree&$$ arid Profcriptio among the Romans. This alfo occafions the conflant Change of Languages ; becaufe the Change of Cuftom and Opinion brings with it new Combinations of Ideas, which, to avoid long Defcriptions, have new Names annexed to them, and fo they become new Species of Mixed Modes,

Of all our fimple Ideas, thofe which have had mofA mixed Modes made out of them, are Thinking, and Motion , (which comprehend in them all Aftion) and Power, from whence thefe Actions are conceived to flow. For Aflions being the great Bufinefs of Mankind, it is no wonder that the feveral Modes of Thinkingand Motion, mould betaken notice of; and the Ideas of them oblerved, and laid up in Memory, and have Names affigned them. For without fuch complex Ideas with Names to them, Men could not eafily hold any Communication about them;

Of this kind are the Modes of Aftions diflinguifh'd by their Caufes, Means, Objefts, Ends, Inftrumcnrs, Time* Place, and other Circumrfances 5 as alfo of the Powers fitted for thofe Aftions. Thus Boldnefs is the Power to do or fpeak what we intend, without Fear or Diforder ; which Power of doing any thing, when it hath been acquir'd by frequent doing the fame thing, is that Idea we call Ha-

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