208 CLARKE AND SPINOZA. [CHAP. XIIL 



We hence get 



- 



-!(> -^ 



the interpretation of which is, Absolute evil is either moral evil, or 

 it is, if not moral evil, a consequence of moral evil. 



Any of the results obtained in the process of the above solu- 

 tion furnish us with interpretations. Thus from (8) we might 

 deduce 



whence, Absolute evils are either natural evils, which are the con- 

 sequences of moral evils, or they are not natural evils at all. 



A variety of other conclusions may be deduced from the given 

 equations in reply to questions which may be arbitrarily pro- 

 posed. Of such I shall give a few examples, without exhibiting 

 the intermediate processes of solution. 



Quest. 1 . Can any relation be deduced from the premises 

 connecting the following elements, viz. : absolute evils, conse- 

 quences of evils of imperfection, evils compensated with greater 

 good? 



Ans. No relation exists. If we eliminate all the symbols but 

 z,p, q, the result is = 0. 



Quest. 2. Is any relation implied between absolute evils, 

 evils of imperfection, and consequences of evils of imperfection. 



Ans. The final relation between x, t, and p is 



xt + pt = ; 

 whence 



Therefore, Absolute evils are neither evils of imperfection, nor con- 

 sequences of evils of imperfection. 



