A Treatise of Human Nature

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BOOK I PART II


This may open our eyes a little, and let us
see, that no geometrical demonstration for the
infinite divisibility of extension can have so
much force as what we naturally attribute to
every argument, which is supported by such
magnificent pretensions. At the same time we
may learn the reason, why geometry falls of ev-
idence in this single point, while all its other
reasonings command our fullest assent and ap-
probation. And indeed it seems more requi-
site to give the reason of this exception, than
to shew, that we really must make such an ex-
ception, and regard all the mathematical argu-
ments for infinite divisibility as utterly sophis-
tical. For it is evident, that as no idea of quan-
tity is infinitely divisible, there cannot be imag-
ined a more glaring absurdity, than to endeav-
our to prove, that quantity itself admits of such
a division; and to prove this by means of ideas,

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