A collection of papers which passed between the late learned Mr. Leibnitz and Dr. Clarke in the years 1715 and 1716 relating to the principles of natural philosophy and religion / [In French and English] With an appendix. To which are added letters to Dr. Clarke concerning liberty and necessity; from a gentleman of the University of Cambridge [J. Bulkeley]: with the Doctor's answers to them. Also remarks upon a book entituled A philosophical enquiry concerning human liberty [by A. Collins] By Samuel Clarke.

Samuel Clarke

Date:: 1717

Credit: A collection of papers which passed between the late learned Mr. Leibnitz and Dr. Clarke in the years 1715 and 1716 relating to the principles of natural philosophy and religion / [In French and English] With an appendix. To which are added letters to Dr. Clarke concerning liberty and necessity; from a gentleman of the University of Cambridge [J. Bulkeley]: with the Doctor's answers to them. Also remarks upon a book entituled A philosophical enquiry concerning human liberty [by A. Collins] By Samuel Clarke. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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[ 43] If Man has not within himfelf a Principle or Power of Self-motion ^ then every Motion and A3ion of Man, is ftridiy and properly produced by the efficiency of fome extrinfick Caufe : Which Caufe, mu ft be either what we ufually call the Motive or Reafon,upon which a Man ads ^ or elfe it muft be fome infenfibie Subtle Matter, or fome other Being or Sub¬ fiance making an Impreffion upon him. If the Reafcns or Motives upon which a Man ads, be the immediate and efficient Caufe of the ASion : then either abflraS Notions3 fuch as all Reafons and Motives are, have a real Subfjlence, that is, are themfelves Sub- fiances or elfe That which has it felf no real ' Subfijlence, cm put a Body into Motion : Ei¬ ther of which, is manifeftly abfurd. If infenfibie Subtle Matter, or any other Being or Sub fiance ^ continually making impref- fion upon a Man, be the immediate and effici- cient Caufe of his ading :> then the Motion of That Subtle Matter or Subfiance, muft be caufed by fome Other Subftance, and the Motion of That by fome Other, till at laft we arrive at a Free Agent : And then Liberty is a pofible thing : And then Man poflibly may have Liberty : And if he may poffibly have it, then Experience will prove that he probably, nay, that he certainly has it. If we Never arrive at Any Free Caufe : Then there is either in infinitum a Progrefiion of Motions without any Mover, of Effe&s without any Caufe, of things a&ed without

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