A Treatise of Human Nature

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BOOK I PART III


ter such a manner as that four of its sides are
marked with one figure, or one number of
spots, and two with another; and to put this
dye into the box with an intention of throwing
it: It is plain, he must conclude the one figure
to be more probable than the other, and give
the preference to that which is inscribed on the
greatest number of sides. He in a manner be-
lieves, that this will lie uppermost; though still
with hesitation and doubt, in proportion to the
number of chances, which are contrary: And
according as these contrary chances diminish,
and the superiority encreases on the other side,
his belief acquires new degrees of stability and
assurance. This belief arises from an opera-
tion of the mind upon the simple and limited
object before us; and therefore its nature will
be the more easily discovered and explained.
We have nothing but one single dye to contem-

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