capacities, and letting their thoughts wander into those depths where
they can find no sure footing, it is no wonder that they raise questions
and multiply disputes, which, never coming to any clear resolution, are
proper only to continue and increase their doubts, and to confirm them
at last in perfect scepticism. Whereas, were the capacities of our
understandings well considered, the extent of our knowledge once
discovered, and the horizon found which sets the bounds between the
enlightened and dark parts of things; between what is and what is not
comprehensible by us, men would perhaps with less scruple acquiesce in
the avowed ignorance of the one, and employ their thoughts and discourse
with more advantage and satisfaction in the other.


8. What Idea stands for.

Thus much I thought necessary to say concerning the occasion of this
inquiry into human Understanding. But, before I proceed on to what I
have thought on this subject, I must here in the entrance beg pardon of
my reader for the frequent use of the word IDEA, which he will find in
the following treatise. It being that term which, I think, serves best
to stand for whatsoever is the OBJECT of the understanding when a man
thinks, I have used it to express whatever is meant by PHANTASM, NOTION,
SPECIES, or WHATEVER IT IS WHICH THE MIND CAN BE EMPLOYED ABOUT IN
THINKING; and I could not avoid frequently using it. I presume it will
be easily granted me, that there are such IDEAS in men's minds: every
one is conscious of them in himself; and men's words and actions will
satisfy him that they are in others.

Our first inquiry then shall be,--how they come into the mind. BOOK I