OF THE NEW SYSTEM 325 



14. I have no knowledge of these idle, useless, and 

 inactive masses, to which reference is made. There is 

 activity [action] everywhere, and I maintain it even 

 more fully than does the received philosophy ; because 

 I hold that there is no body without motion, no sub- 

 stance without force [effort]* 1 . 



15. I do not understand the nature of the objection 

 that is contained in the words : In truth, Sir, is it not 

 evident that these opinions were formed with a special purpose 

 in view, and that these systems, appearing by way of after- 

 thought [venant apres coup], were constructed merely to safe- 

 guard certain principles? All hypotheses are made with 

 a special purpose in view, and all systems appear ~by way of 

 afterthought [viennent apres coup], in order to safeguard 

 phenomena or appearances ; but I do not see what are the 

 principles in favour of which I am said to be prejudiced 

 and which I wish to safeguard. 



1 6. If it is meant that I am led to my hypothesis also 

 by reasons a priori or by fixed principles, as is actually 

 the case ; this is rather a commendation of the hypo- 

 thesis than an objection to it. It is usually enough that 

 a hypothesis be proved a posteriori, by being adequate to 

 the phenomena ; but when there are in addition other 

 reasons for it, and these a priori, it is so much the better. 



1 7. But perhaps what is meant is that, having invented 

 a new opinion, I have delighted to make use of it, rather 

 to give myself airs because of its novelty than because 

 I have found any usefulness in it. I am not sure, Sir, 

 that you have so bad an opinion of me as to attribute to 

 me these thoughts. For you know that I love truth, and 

 that, if I were so fond of novelties, I should have more 



are at rest and do not move at all. So, when wide awake, souls 

 would always continue to be persuaded that their bodies move in 

 obedience to their volitions, though nevertheless these idle and 

 useless masses would be inactive and would remain in a continual 

 lethargy ' (E. 130 a ; G. iv. 489). 



21 That is, force which is not necessarily observed, but includes 

 tendency or the active potentiality of observed force. 



