152 HUME vi 



" We learn from anatomy, that the immediate object of 

 power in voluntary motion is not the member itself which is 

 moved, but certain muscles and nerves and animal spirits, 

 and perhaps something still more minute and unknown, 

 through which the motion is successively propagated, ere 

 it reached the member itself, whose motion is the immedi- 

 ate object of volition. Can there be a more certain proof 

 that the power by which the whole operation is performed, 

 so far from being directly and fully known by an inward 

 sentiment or consciousness, is to the last degree mysterious 

 and unintelligible ? Here the mind wills a certain event : 

 Immediately another event, unknown to ourselves and totally 

 different from the one intended, is produced : This event pro- 

 duces another equally unknown : Till at last, through a long 

 succession, the desired event is produced." (IV. p. 78.) 



A still stronger argument against ascribing an 

 objective existence to force or power, on the 

 strength of our supposed direct intuition of power 

 in voluntary acts, may be urged from the un- 

 questionable fact, that we do not know, and 

 cannot know, that volition does cause corporeal 

 motion; while there is a great deal to be said in 

 favour of the view that it is no cause, but merely 

 a concomitant of that motion. But the nature of 

 volition will be more fitly considered hereafter. 



