BOOK I PART II
To whatever side mathematicians turn, this
dilemma still meets them. If they judge of
equality, or any other proportion, by the accu-
rate and exact standard, viz. the enumeration
of the minute indivisible parts, they both em-
ploy a standard, which is useless in practice,
and actually establish the indivisibility of ex-
tension, which they endeavour to explode. Or
if they employ, as is usual, the inaccurate stan-
dard, derived from a comparison of objects,
upon their general appearance, corrected by
measuring and juxtaposition; their first prin-
ciples, though certain and infallible, are too
coarse to afford any such subtile inferences as
they commonly draw from them. The first
principles are founded on the imagination and
senses: The conclusion, therefore, can never go
beyond, much less contradict these faculties.