Locke, John (1632-1704)

An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding

London

1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706

"When the Ideas that offer themselves, (for as I have observed in another place, whilst we are awake, there will always be a train of Ideas succeeding one another in our Minds,) are taken notice of, and, as it were, registred in the Memory, it is Attention."

When the Mind turns its view inwards upon its self, and contemplates its own Actions, Thinking is the first that occurrs; wherein it observes a great variety of Modifications, and thereof frames to it self distinct Ideas. Thus the Perception, or Thought, which actually accompany, and is annexed to any impression on the Body, made by an external Object, it frames a distinct Idea of, which we call Sensation; which is, as it were, the actual entrance of any Idea into the Understanding by the Senses. The same Idea, when it again recurrs without the operation of the like Object on the eternal Sensory, is Remembrance. If it be sought after by the Mind, and with pain and endeavour found, and brought again in view, 'tis Recollection: If it be held there long under attentive Consideration, 'tis Contemplation. When Ideas float in our Mind, without any reflection or regard of the Understanding, it is that which the French call Resvery; our Language has scarce a name for it. When the Ideas that offer themselves, (for as I have observed in another place, whilst we are awake, there will always be a train of Ideas succeeding one another in our Minds,) are taken notice of, and, as it were, registred in the Memory, it is Attention. When the Mind with great earnestness, and of a choice, fixes its view on any Idea, considers it on all sides, and will not be called off by the ordinary sollicitation of other Ideas, it is that we call Intention, or Study. Sleep, without dreaming, is rest from all these; and Dreaming it self, is the perception of Ideas (whilst the outward Senses are stopp'd, so that they receive not outward Objects with their usual quickness,) in the Mind, not suggested by any external Objects, or known occasion; nor under any Choice or Conduct of the Understanding at all; and whether that which we call Extasie, be not dreaming with the Eyes open, I leave to be examined.
(II.xix.1)

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Locke began composition as early as 1671 (Drafts A and B).

I find over 25 entries in the ESTC (1690, 1694, 1695, 1700, 1706, 1710, 1715, 1721, 1726, 1731, 1735, 1741, 1748, 1753, 1759, 1760, 1765, 1768, 1775, 1777, 1786, 1788, 1793, 1795, 1796, 1798). See also the many abridgements issued in the period.

First published as An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. In Four Books. (London: Printed by Eliz. Holt, for Thomas Basset, at the George in Fleetstreet, near St. Dunstan's Church, 1690). <Link to EEBO><EEBO-TCP>

Searching first in a Past Masters edition based on the 12th Edition of Locke's Works and proofread against the 1959 Fraser edition. More recent searches in EEBO-TCP.

Reading John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, ed. Peter Nidditch (Oxford, Oxford UP, 1975)--against which I have checked the text searched in Past Masters. Note, Nidditch's text is based on 4th ed. of 1700.

06/18/2018