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"The Characters Engraven on each, would be much the same, Deriv'd from those Sensations, which are Common to all; since according to this Philosophy, what is Originally Writ upon our Minds, is from our Conversation with External Objects, and then Reflecting upon the Operations of the Faculties and Powers or our Understandings; These therefore would be nearly Alike in all Men, and there would, in General, be little or no Room left for that Prodigious Variety and Distinction, Observable in the several Thoughts, Reasonings, Opinions, and Fancies of Men, and in the Forces and Strength of their proper Genius's, and Complexions of Mind."

— Greene, Robert (c. 1678-1730)

Author

Greene, Robert (c. 1678-1730)

Work Title

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

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

"The Characters Engraven on each, would be much the same, Deriv'd from those Sensations, which are Common to all; since according to this Philosophy, what is Originally Writ upon our Minds, is from our Conversation with External Objects, and then Reflecting upon the Operations of the Faculties and Powers or our Understandings; These therefore would be nearly Alike in all Men, and there would, in General, be little or no Room left for that Prodigious Variety and Distinction, Observable in the several Thoughts, Reasonings, Opinions, and Fancies of Men, and in the Forces and Strength of their proper Genius's, and Complexions of Mind."

Metaphor in Context

For, Moreover, if the Mind was a mere Rasa Tabula, if it was only a Plain Piece of Paper to Write on, what Difference could there Possibly be in Fact in One Man's Understanding, and Another's? The Characters Engraven on each, would be much the same, Deriv'd from those Sensations, which are Common to all; since according to this Philosophy, what is Originally Writ upon our Minds, is from our Conversation with External Objects, and then Reflecting upon the Operations of the Faculties and Powers or our Understandings; These therefore would be nearly Alike in all Men, and there would, in General, be little or no Room left for that Prodigious Variety and Distinction, Observable in the several Thoughts, Reasonings, Opinions, and Fancies of Men, and in the Forces and Strength of their proper Genius's, and Complexions of Mind; if the Ground-work of all was nothing else that a Rasa Tabula and the Pencils Employed to Embellish it, were no other than our Senses, which are the same in most, and the Paintings and Portraitures made upon it, the [end page 602] Constant and Unvaried Objects of Nature, and Ideot, according to such an Account of the Mind, may be as Wise, as a Philosopher, and a Brute as Knowing, as a Man; There is one Rasa Tabula belongs to them all, the same senses to Inscribe the Various Characters of External Nature upon it, and it is not to be Doubted, but they have Reflection.
(V.ii.4, p. 602-3)