Burnet, Thomas (c.1635-1715)

Second Remarks upon an Essay Concerning Humane Understanding, In a Letter Address'd to the Author Being a Vindication of the First Remarks, Against the Answer of Mr. Lock, At the End of His Reply to the Lord Bishop of Worcester.

London

Printed for M. Wotton, [etc.]

1697

The soul may be a "Modification or Power of the Body" so that it eventually ceases to act, "either perishing, as a Flame when the Fewel is spent; or returning to its Fountain, whatsoever it was"

As to the Immortality of the Soul, In your Answer to the Lord Bishop of Worcester, you acknowledge the Deficiency or Limitation of your Principles as to the Proof of its Immateriality: but however, you do not freely tell us, what you make the Soul to be. You say indeed, 'tis a Thinking Substance; but so you say Matter may be made, for any thing you know, or any thing we know, by your Principles. Do you think the Soul to be a permanent Substance, distinct from the Body? or a Modification or Power of the Body? or Life onely? or a certain Influence from without, acting in Matter so and so qualified, or in such and such Systems? Which Dispositions or Systems, when they come to be dissolved or destroy'd, that Power ceases to act there; either perishing, as a Flame when the Fewel is spent; or returning to its Fountain, whatsoever it was. This Notion seems to me to suit best to the general Air of you Discourse about the Soul, and with several particular Passages relating to it. As when you make Cogitation in us to be like Motion in Matter, which receives its Motion from external Impression. And when you speak about the Sleep of the Soul, or the Suspension of Cogitation when we sleep; the Body not being then receptive of the Thinking Influence.
(pp. 13-4)

Fire::Flame Liquid::Fountain

Reading Burnet's three Remarks

Burnet, Thomas; Locke, John, and Porter, Noah. Remarks Upon an Essay Concerning Humane Understanding: Five Tracts. Garland Publishing, Inc. New York and London, 1984.

Lockean Philosophy

03/15/2005