Berekely

Berkeley, "A Defense of Free Thinking in Mathematics"

Excerpts:

"In my opinion the greatest men have their Prejudices. Men learn the elements of
Science from others: And every learner hath a deference more or less to authority, especially
the young learners, few of that kind caring to dwell long upon Principles, but inclining rather
to take them upon trust: And things early admitted by repetition become familiar: And
this familiarity at length passeth for Evidence. Now to me it seems, there are certain points
tacitly admitted by Mathematicians, which are neither evident nor true. And such points or
principles ever mixing with their reasonings do lead them into paradoxes and perplexities.
If the great author of the fluxionary method were early imbued with such notions, it would
only shew he was a man. And if by vertue of some latent errour in his principles a man
be drawn into fallacious reasonings, it is nothing strange that he should take them for true:
And, nevertheless, if, when urged by perplexities and uncouth consequences, and driven to
arts and shifts, he should entertain some doubt thereof, it is no more than one may naturally
suppose, might befall a great genius grappling with an insuperable di culty: Which is the
light in which I have placed Sir Isaac Newton. * Hereupon you are pleased to remark, that I
represent the great author not only as a weak but an ill man, as a Deceiver and an Impostor.
The Reader will judge how justly."


"Because I am not guilty of your mean Idolatry, you inveigh against me as a
person conceited of my own Abilities; not considering that a person of less Abilities may
know more on a certain point than one of greater; not considering that a purblind eye, in
a close and narrow view, may discern more of a thing, than a much better eye in a more
extensive prospect; not considering that this is to x a ne plus ultra, to put a stop to all
future inquiries; Lastly, not considering that this is in fact, so much as in you lies, converting
the Republick of Letters into an absolute monarchy, that it is even introducing a kind of
Philosophic Popery among a free People."