BOOK I PART III
SECTIONIII. WHY ACAUSE IS ALWAYS
NECESSARY
To begin with the first question concerning
the necessity of a cause: It is a general maxim in
philosophy, that whatever begins to exist, must
have a cause of existence. This is commonly
taken for granted in all reasonings, without any
proof given or demanded. It is supposed to be
founded on intuition, and to be one of those
maxims, which though they may be denyed
with the lips, it is impossible for men in their
hearts really to doubt of. But if we examine
this maxim by the idea of knowledge above-
explained, we shall discover in it no mark of
any such intuitive certainty; but on the con-
trary shall find, that it is of a nature quite for-
eign to that species of conviction.
All certainty arises from the comparison of