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Some thoughts on the conduct of the understanding in the search of truth
Some thoughts on the conduct of the understanding in the search of truth Author:John Locke This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1741 Excerpt: ...made one Generation much differ from another in Arts and Sciences: But Truth is always the fame; Time alters it not, nor is it the better ... more »or worse for being of Ancient or Modern Tradition. Many were eminent informer Ages of the World for their discovery and delivery of it; but though the Knowledge they have left us be worth our Study, yet they exhausted not all its Treasure; they left a great deal for the Industry and Sagacity of after Ages, and so shall we. That was once new to them which any one now receives with veneration for its Antiquity; nor was it the worse for appearing as a Novelty,, and that which is now embrae'd for its Newness, will, to Posterity, be old, but not thereby be less true or less genuin. There is no oo casion on this account to oppose the Ancients, and the Moderns to one another, or to be squeamish on either side. He that wisely conduds his Mind in the pursuit of Knowledge,w ill gather what Lights, and get what Helps he can from either of them, from whom they are best to be had, without adoring the Errors, or rejecting the Truths which he may find mingled in them. Another Another Partiality may be observ'd, in fbme to vulgar, in others to heterodox Tenets: Some are apt to conclude, that what is the common Opinion cannot but be true $ so many Mens Eyes they think cannot but lee right; so many Mens Understandings of all forts cannot be deceiv'd, and therefore will not venture to look beyond the receiv'd notions of the Place and Age, nor have so presumptuous a Thought as to be wises than their Neighbour. They are content to go with the Crowd, and so go easi, which they think is going right, or at least serves them as well. But however, voxpopuli vox Dei has prevail'd as a Max ime, yet I do not remember wherever God deliver'd his Oracle...« less