414 ANTIENT METAPHYSICS. Book V. 



CHAP. VI. 



The Doiiht about the Exigence of the Material M'orldnotfo old as Plato 

 and Arijlotle — Firjljiarted^ in Modern Times^ by Dr Berkeley — Tnvo 

 Anjivers gi'uen to it^ but neither of them JatisfaSlory — Other Proofs^ 

 therefore^ necejjary — Prenjious Objervations concerning Mr Hume^s 

 Syjlem of Philojophy on this Subje^ — Proof of the Exiftence of Exter- 

 nal ObjeSls from a Principle acknoijuledged by the Sceptics^ 'viz. Con- 

 fcioufnefs — Proof from the Cafe of Blind and Deaf Men — Proof from 

 the Mind Bang paj/i'ue in the Perceptions of Senfe — ObjeSiion anjiver- 

 ed — Mr Locke'* s Dijlinfl'ion of Primary and Secondary ^alities de^ 

 fended — Oijeftionfrom our Dreams anfivered — The Mind then has 

 not the entire life of its Faculties — Therefore not able to dijiinguifh 

 betivixt Illufion and Reality, 



TH E doubt concerning the exiftence of the material world was 

 firft ftarted in modern times by Dr Berkeley, and greedily caich- 

 ed at by the author of the Treatife upon Human Nature, and of the 

 Effays, as very favourable to his defign of overturning all fcience and 

 certainty, and evidence of every kind. In antient times, it was tirft 

 advanced by Pyrrho, who, finding no other way lo diitmguilh himfelf, 

 and to get a name among the great philofophers that had gone be- 

 fore him, did, as I believe, out of mere vanity, (the prevailing paiTion 

 of fceptics in all ages, whatever their pretenfions to u.odefty may be,) 

 firft broach this extravagant paradox, which, however, if it were true, 

 would not anfwer Mr Hume's purpole, ot putting an end to ail Icience 



and 



