composed. A perception of their agreement is termed belief, many obstacles frequently prevent this perception from being immediate, these the mind attempts to remove in order that the perception may be distinct. The mind is active in the investigation, in order to perfect the state of perception[1] which is passive; the investigation being confused with the perception has induced many falsely to imagine that the mind is active in belief, that belief is an act of volition, in consequence of which it may be regulated by the mind; pursuing, continuing this mistake they have attached a degree of criminality to disbelief of which in its nature it is incapable; it is equally so[2] of merit.
The strength of belief like that of every other passion is in proportion to the degrees of excitement.
The degrees of excitement are three.
The senses are the sources of all knowledge to the mind, consequently their evidence claims the strongest assent.
The decision of the mind founded upon our own experience derived from these sources, claims the next degree.
The experience of others which addresses itself to the former one, occupies the lowest degree.[3]—
- ↑ In Queen Mab, after perception, stand the words of the relation which the component ideas of the proposition bear to each.
- ↑ In Queen Mab we read equally incapable; and the next paragraph stands thus: "Belief, then, is a passion, the strength of which, like every other passion, is in precise proportion to the degrees of excitement."
- ↑ In Queen Mab we read between this paragraph and the next as follows: "(A graduated scale, on which should be marked the capabilities of propositions to approach to the test of the senses, would be a just barometer of the belief which ought to be attached to them.)" It is curious that the whole of this interpolation is transferred to A Refutation of Deism, the word barometer, however, being replaced by measure.
