Joseph Butler

“ To suppose a finite being to be self-existing, is to say, that it is a contradiction for that being not to exist, the absence of which may yet be conceived with- out a contradiction; which is the greatest absurdity in the world. ”

“ We may indeed have ideas to the words, and not altogether depart from the common sense of them, when we say the self-existent substance is the substratum of space, or the ground of its existence: but I see no reason to think it true; because space seems to me to be as absolutely self-existent, as it is possible anything can be; so that, make what other supposition you please, yet we cannot help supposing immense space; because there must be either an infinity of being, or (if you will allow the expression) an infinite vacuity of being. ”

“ A man that had eyes, but no power of motion, or sense of feeling at all, when he tried to frame to himself the idea of body, his idea would be nothing but that of colour. Now as, in these cases, hardness is not body; and colour is not body; but yet, to the understanding of these persons, those properties necessarily infer the being of a substance, of which substance itself the persons have no idea: so space, to us, is not itself substance, but it necessarily infers the being of a substance, which affects none of our present senses ”

“ All substances, doubtless, whether body or spirit, exist in space: but when I say that a spirit exists in space, were I put upon telling my meaning, I know not how I could do it any other way than by saying, such a particular quantity of space terminates the capacity of acting in finite spirits at one and the same time, so that they cannot act beyond that determined quantity. Not but that I think there is somewhat in the manner of existence of spirits in respect of space, that more directly answers to the manner of the existence of body ”

“ Sir,—Did men, who publish controversial papers, accustom themselves to write with that candour and ingenuity with which you propose your difficulties, I am persuaded almost all disputes might be very amicably terminated, either by men's coming at last to agree in opinion, or at least, finding reason to suffer each other friendly to differ. ”

“ Perhaps it may be answered, that I have not rightly explained the words, to exist alone; and that they do not mean only, to exist independent from the other; but that, existing alone, means that nothing exists with it. ”

“ I have aimed at nothing in my style but only to be intelligible: being sensible that it is very difficult (as you observe) to express one's self on these sort of subjects, especially for one who is altogether unaccustomed to write upon them. ”

“ That the propositions are different, I think is plain; and whether there be an immediate connection, everybody that reads your book must judge for themselves. I must say, for my own part, the absurdity does not appear at first sight any more than the absurdity of saying, that the angles below the base in the isosceles triangle are unequal; which, though it is absolutely false, yet I suppose no one will lay down the contrary for an axiom; because, though it is true, yet there is need of a proof to make it appear so. ”

“ To suppose matter or any other substance necessarily existing in a finite determinate quantity; in an inch-cube, for instance, or in any certain number of cube-inches, and no more, is exactly the same absurdity, as supposing it to exist necessarily, and yet for a finite duration only; which every one sees to be a plain contradiction. The argument is likewise the same in the question about the original of motion. ^ Motion cannot be necessarily existing ”

“ However, it is certain there may be other reasons for persons not agreeing in their opinions: and where it is so, I cannot but think with you, that they will find reason to suffer each other to differ friendly; every man having a way of thinking, in some respects, peculiarly his own.
I am sorry I must tell you, your answers to my objections are not satisfactory. ”

“ Reverend Sir,—I have often thought that the chief occasions of men’s differeng so much in their opinions, were either their not understanding each other, or else, that in- stead of ingenuously searching after truth, they have made it their business to find out arguments for the proof of what they have once asserted. ”