BOOK III PART I
firmed, that such a falshood is the foundation
of all guilt and moral deformity. That we may
discover the fallacy of his hypothesis, we need
only consider, that a false conclusion is drawn
from an action, only by means of an obscurity
of natural principles, which makes a cause be
secretly interrupted In its operation, by con-
trary causes, and renders the connexion be-
twixt two objects uncertain and variable. Now,
as a like uncertainty and variety of causes take
place, even in natural objects, and produce a
like error in our judgment, if that tendency to
produce error were the very essence of vice and
immorality, it should follow, that even inani-
mate objects might be vicious and immoral.
It is in vain to urge, that inanimate objects act
without liberty and choice. For as liberty and
choice are not necessary to make an action pro-