The ideas formed by the imagination are faint and
indistinct; they have, besides, an entire dependence on the will.
But the ideas perceived by sense, that is, real things, are more
vivid and clear; and, being imprinted on the mind by a spirit
distinct from us, have not the like dependence on our will. There
is therefore no danger of confounding these with the foregoing:
and there is as little of confounding them with the visions of a
dream, which are dim, irregular, and confused. And, though they
should happen to be never so lively and natural, yet, by their
not being connected, and of a piece with the preceding and
subsequent transactions of our lives, they might easily be
distinguished from realities. In short, by whatever method you
distinguish
on your scheme, the same, it
is evident, will hold also upon mine. For, it must be, I presume,
by some perceived difference; and I am not for depriving you of
any one thing that you perceive.
. But still, Philonous, you hold, there is nothing in
the world but spirits and ideas.
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