And "therefore, if the Present Philosophy is of this Opinion, that the Mind is a Rasa Tabula, a Perfectly Unactive and Unintelligent Being in it's self, and in it's own Nature, it it only Perceives, as Impulses are made on it, in like Manner, as this paper Received no Characters, but what are Written thereon, it will not always Think and Perceive"
— Greene, Robert (c. 1678-1730)
Place of Publication
Cambridge
Publisher
Printed at the University-Press, by Cornelius Crownfield, and are to be sold by him, E. Jefferys, and W. Thurlbourne booksellers in Cambridge, and by J. Knapton, R. Knaplock, W. and J. Innys, and B. Motte, London
Date
1727
Metaphor
And "therefore, if the Present Philosophy is of this Opinion, that the Mind is a Rasa Tabula, a Perfectly Unactive and Unintelligent Being in it's self, and in it's own Nature, it it only Perceives, as Impulses are made on it, in like Manner, as this paper Received no Characters, but what are Written thereon, it will not always Think and Perceive"
Metaphor in Context
As to the Nature of the Mind, whether it is a Material or an Immaterial being, if it is not of it's self an Intelligent one, it may not always Think; because it will only do so, when it's Thoughts are Excited in it by some impressions made upon it; and therefore, if the Present Philosophy is of this Opinion, that the Mind is a Rasa Tabula, a Perfectly Unactive and Unintelligent Being in it's self, and in it's own Nature, it it only Perceives, as Impulses are made on it, in like Manner, as this paper Received no Characters, but what are Written thereon, it will not always Think and Perceive; And it may, if it Pleases, upon such a Worthy Sentiment of our Minds, Affirm, that they do not always Think, or have no Sense at all Appertaining to them; That is, that our Understandings, and our Minds, are no more than Motion is to Matter, a mere Accident of it, and that Thought, Perception, Sense, or Intelligence, is nothing else, but a Quality of some known Substance, which may in such a Case be Matter, as well as any other Substance, and which it Thinks it may be, when fitly Disposed.
(V.ii.12, p. 607)
(V.ii.12, p. 607)
Categories
Provenance
Searching "tabula rasa" in ECCO
Citation
Greene, Robert. The principles of the philosophy of the expansive and contractive forces. Or an inquiry into the principles of the modern philosophy, that is, into the several chief rational sciences, which are extant. In seven books. By Robert Greene, ... Cambridge, 1727. Based on information from English Short Title Catalogue. Eighteenth Century Collections Online. Gale Group. http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/ECCO
Theme
Blank Slate
Date of Entry
10/08/2006
