"Three Dialogues" - читать интересную книгу автора (Berkeley George)

only perceived by the senses which are perceived immediately? Or,
may those things properly be said to be which are
perceived mediately, or not without the intervention of others?

. I do not sufficiently understand you.

. In reading a book, what I immediately perceive are
the letters; but mediately, or by means of these, are suggested
to my mind the notions of God, virtue, truth, &c. Now, that the
letters are truly sensible things, or perceived by sense, there
is no doubt: but I would know whether you take the things
suggested by them to be so too.

. No, certainly: it were absurd to think or
sensible things; though they may be signified and
suggested to the mind by sensible marks, with which they have an
arbitrary connexion.

. It seems then, that by you mean
those only which can be perceived by sense?

. Right.

. Doth it not follow from this, that though I see one
part of the sky red, and another blue, and that my reason doth
thence evidently conclude there must be some cause of that
diversity of colours, yet that cause cannot be said to be a
sensible thing, or perceived by the sense of seeing?

. It doth.

. In like manner, though I hear variety of sounds, yet
I cannot be said to hear the causes of those sounds?

. You cannot.

. And when by my touch I perceive a thing to be hot
and heavy, I cannot say, with any truth or propriety, that I feel
the cause of its heat or weight?

. To prevent any more questions of this kind, I tell
you once for all, that by I mean those only
which are perceived by sense; and that in truth the senses
perceive nothing which they do not perceive : for
they make no {175} inferences. The deducing therefore of causes
or occasions from effects and appearances, which alone are
perceived by sense, entirely relates to reason.

. This point then is agreed between us -- That