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possesses the true conception of a thing; proceeds to reproduce in
thought that thing's effects。 (4) See below; where I speak of the
false idea。 '64b' (1) Observe that fiction regarded in itself; only differs
from dreams in that in the latter we do not perceive the external
causes which we perceive through the senses while awake。 (2) It
has hence been inferred that representations occurring in sleep have
no connection with objects external to us。 (3) We shall presently
see that error is the dreaming of a waking man: if it reaches a certain
pitch it becomes delirium。 '76z' These are not attributes of God displaying
His essence; as I will show in my philosophy。 '76a' (1) This has been
shown already。 (2) For if such a being did not exist it would never
be produced; therefore the mind would be able to understand more
than nature could furnish; and this has been shown above to be false。
'78a' (1) That is; it is known that the senses sometimes deceive us。
(2) But it is only known confusedly; for it is not known how they
deceive us。 '83d' (1) If the duration be indefinite; the recollection is
imperfect; this everyone seems to have learnt from nature。 (2) For
we often ask; to strengthen our belief in something we hear of; when
and where it happened; though ideas themselves have their own
duration in the mind; yet; as we are wont to determine duration by
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On the Improvement of the Understanding
the aid of some measure of motion which; again; takes place by aid
of imagination; we preserve no memory connected with pure
intellect。 '91e' The chief rule of this part is; as appears from the first
part; to review all the ideas coming to us through pure intellect; so as
to distinguish them from such as we imagine: the distinction will be
shown through the properties of each; namely; of the imagination
and of the understanding。 '92f' Observe that it is thereby manifest that we
cannot understand anything of nature without at the same time
increasing our knowledge of the first cause; or God。
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