446 Additional Notes. 



power; no other idea of a cause, but that it is something ante* 

 cedent, and constantly conjoined to that which we call its 

 effects ; in a word, that we can have no idea of any thing 

 but our sensations, and the operations of mind of which we are 

 conscious," and that nothing else exists. — Reid's Essays, II. 



But though Mr. Hume's fundamental doctrines were thus 

 extravagant and absurd; and though his philosophy, falsely so 

 called, leads to the most unlimited scepticism, as he doubtless 

 intended it should; yet both he and Bishop Berkeley ren- 

 dered important service to metaphysical science. The mode 

 in which they discussed their very errors and absurdities con- 

 tributed to confer on this branch of philosophy a perspicuity 

 and precision, which are of the utmost importance in study- 

 ing the human mind. 



On the subject of causation Mr. Hume has thrown new 

 light. Some of his reasonings, indeed, on this subject, were 

 suggested by Malebranche, and, even at a still earlier 

 period, by Bacon and Hobbes. Ideas, also, similar to some 

 of those which he advanced, were thrown out by Barrow, 

 Butler, Berkeley, and others. But Mr. Hume has the 

 merit of having first clearly shown to philosophers, that our 

 common language, with respect to cause and effect, is merely 

 analogical ; and that, if there be any links among physical 

 events, they must for ever remain invisible to us. Nor is the 

 justness of this doctrine to be doubted on account of the 

 sceptical inferences, which its author has deduced from it : his 

 error, in this case, does not so much lie in his premises as in 

 the conclusions which he draws from them. In fact, if this 

 part of his system be admitted ; and if, at the same time, we 

 admit the authority of that principle of the mind which leads, 

 tis to refer every event to an efficient cause ; his doctrine con- 

 ducts us to a result more sublime, more favourable to piety, 

 and more consistent with sound philosophy, than the opi- 

 nion commonly held on this subject. — See Stewart's Phi- 

 losophy of Mindy Notes C and D. 



Dr. Reid. p. 10. t 



Thomas Reid, D. D. was born at Strachan, in Kincar- 

 dineshire, North-Britain, April 26, 1710. He was educated 

 at the University of Aberdeen, and for a number of years 

 held the pastoral charge of the Congregation of New-Machar, 

 in the neighbourhood of that city. He was chosen Professor 



