70 NAMES AND PROPOSITIONS. 



white, is the ground on which we ascribe to that substance the 

 quality whiteness ; the sole proof of its possessing that quality. 

 But because one thing may be the sole evidence of the exist- 

 ence of another thing, it does not follow that the two are one 

 and the same. The attribute whiteness (it may be said) is not 

 the fact of receiving the sensation, but something in the 

 object itself; a power inherent in it; something in virtue of 

 which the object produces the sensation. And when we affirm 

 that snow possesses the attribute whiteness, we do not merely 

 assert that the presence of snow produces in us that sensation, 

 but that it does so through,, and by reason of, that power or 

 quality. 



For the purposes of logic it is not of material importance 

 which of these opinions we adopt. The full discussion of the 

 subject belongs to the other department of scientific inquiry, 

 so often alluded to under the name of metaphysics ; but it may 

 be said here, that for the doctrine of the existence of a peculiar 

 species of entities called qualities, I ean see no foundation 

 except in a tendency of the human mind which is the cause of 

 many delusions. I mean, the disposition, wherever we meet 

 with two names which are not precisely synonymous, to sup- 

 pose that they must be the names of two different things ; 

 whereas in reality they may be names of the same thing viewed 

 in two different lights, or under different suppositions as to 

 surrounding cireumstances. Because quality and sensation 

 cannot be put indiscriminately one for the other, it is supposed 

 that they cannot both signify the same thing, namely, the 

 impression or feeling with which we are affected through our 

 senses by the presence of an object; though there is at least 

 no absurdity in supposing that this identical impression or 

 feeling may be called a sensation when considered merely in 

 itself, and a quality when looked at in relation to any one of 

 the numerous objects, the presence of which to our organs 

 excites in our minds that among various other sensations or 

 feelings. And if this be admissible as a supposition, it rests 

 with those who contend for an entity per se called a quality, 

 to show that their opinion is preferable, or is anything in fact 

 but a lingering remnant of the scholastic doctrine of occult 



