192 CLARKE AND SPINOZA. [CHAP. XIII. 



Of relations connecting more than one of the propositions re- 

 presented by the elementary symbols, it is needless to consider 

 any but that which is denoted by the equation (7) connecting 

 p and </, inasmuch as the propositions represented by the remain- 

 ing symbols are absolutely true or false independently of any con- 

 nexion of the kind here spoken of. The interpretation of (7), 

 placed under the form 



p(l-q) + q(l-p) = 1, is, 



The something which, is, either exists in the necessity of its 

 own nature, or by the will of another being. 



I have exhibited the details of the above analysis with a, 

 perhaps, needless fulness and prolixity, because in the examples 

 which will follow, I propose rather to indicate the steps by 

 which results are obtained, than to incur the danger of a weari- 

 some frequency of repetition. The conclusions which have re- 

 sulted from the above application of the method are easily verified 

 by ordinary reasoning. 



The reader will have no difficulty in applying the method 

 to the other train of premises involved in Dr. Clarke's first Pro- 

 position, and deducing from them the two first of the conclusions 

 to which the above analysis has led. 



PROPOSITION II. 



7. Some one unchangeable and independent Being has existed 

 from eternity. 



The premises from which the above proposition is proved 

 are the following : 



1st. Something has always existed. 



2nd. If something has always existed, either there has existed 

 some one unchangeable and independent being, or the whole of 

 existing things has been comprehended in a succession of change- 

 able and dependent beings. 



3rd. If the universe has consisted of a succession of change- 

 able and dependent beings, either that series has had a cause from 

 without, or it has had a cause from within. 



4th. It has not had a cause from without (because it includes, 

 by hypothesis, all things that exist). 



