Chap. 8.] Difyutes arifing from Words. 451 



ideas of fenfation, there can Scarcely be any miftake. 

 The miftakes alluded to ufually happen, ift. From an 

 idea being omitted, which ought to have been com- 

 prehended in that definition of a general term, which 

 every man makes in his own mind. As in chance- 

 medley,, man-jlaughter y murder, the principal idea is the 

 fame, yet the refpeftive words fuggeft an idea mate- 

 rially different, sndly. From ideas being admitted, 

 which ought not to be comprehended in the general 

 term, ^dly, From an obfcure or confufed view of the 

 meaning. 4thly, Difputes often arife, becaufe a man 

 may have a part of the ideas, which are comprehended 

 under the general word, more ftrongly aflbciated with 

 his other ideas than the reft ; of cotirfe he will have a 

 partial view, and his reafoning will be biaffed by a 

 kind of prejudice. 



The firft end of language is to make known our 

 thoughts to others, in which we fail, ift, When we ufe 

 words without clear and diftindt meanings; adly, When 

 we apply received names to ideas, to which the com- 

 mon ufe of language does not apply them; jdly, When 

 we apply them unfteadily. 



The fecond end of language is to make known our 

 thoughts with as much eafe and quicknefs as poflible, 

 and this men fail in when they want either names for 

 complex ideas, or abftract and general terms. The 

 third end of language is to convey the knowledge of 

 things, and this cannot be done, but when the ideas 

 agree with the reality of things *. 



Other abufes of language, not noted above, are, 

 ift, Affected obfcurity ; 2nd, Taking words for things, 

 as abhorrence of a vacuum, Jubftantial forms, &c. to 

 which I may add, taking memory, judgment ', imagination^ 



f See Locke, b. iii. c. 9. 



G g 2 for 



