Locke’s Theory of Perception 243
bodies, from this physical point of view, if we are to under-
stand how they communicate with one another, and why
something more than just matter must be present before per-
ception of, and by means of, bodies can occur.
Suppose then we take an enormous number of the ultimate
particles of matter and, with the skill of a god, put them to-
gether to form a human body. Now just as putting together
the same enormous number of marbles would not form a
living colossus, sowe cannot hope by this kindof juxtaposition
of parts to form a living body, but we shall, by hypothesis,
construct one similar in every physical detail to a living
model. Atom by atom we build it up, till before us lies the
finished product, trunk, head, and limbs, the whole equipped
with the five or more sense-organs. The eyes and the ears
are open, and are being stimulated by particles and vibra-
tions from other bodies in the neighborhood. As a result,
minute motions of the particles in these organs of sense are
caused which, by impact on impact, are communicated to the
brain. As yet, however, the causal sequence differs not a whit
from the bump-and-rebound type that occurs say among the
particles of a stone, and even the last term of the sequence—
the effect in the brain—is simply a borrowed motion through
space. Briefly, we do indeed have before us a physical organ-
ism, exhibiting extension in space, shape, motion, and nu-
merous parts, but we plainly do not have before us a living
organism. In Locke’s words, “whatever impressions are
made on the outward parts, if they are not taken notice of
within, there is no perception.’’1 And there is nothing as yet
within the organism to note what goes on there or anywhere
else. An atom or a group of atoms cannot perceive another,
be this other either at a distance from it or in spatially im-
1 ɪɪ, 9, 3∙