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

It is commendable for "a Man to attend to his own Thoughts and Conceptions, and the best Light he hath"

Sir, If you please to let us know your Grounds of Morality (Mathematically demonstrable) as plainly as I have done mine, 'tis all that I desire as to this Particular. And in all other things, I think, 'tis enough to express our Thoughts clearly, with our Reasons for them. More is not needful amongst Persons that have no other Design than to find our Truth, by comparing the Opinions of others with their own, and weighing the Reasons on both sides. For a Man to attend to his own Thoughts and Conceptions, and the best Light he hath; not to speak by roat, and blindly follow either new or receiv'd Opinions, is so far commendable. But whether his Principles and Conclusions are just, and proportionate to the Nature of Things, is a further Question, and must be left to Time and Trial. [...]
(pp. 27-8)

Light

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.

Enlightenment; Lockean Philosophy

03/15/2005