Ideas of Groups of Substances

1. A collective idea is one Idea.

1. A collective idea is a single idea.

Besides these complex ideas of several SINGLE substances, as of man, horse, gold, violet, apple, &c., the mind hath also complex COLLECTIVE ideas of substances; which I so call, because such ideas are made up of many particular substances considered together, as united into one idea, and which so joined; are looked on as one; v. g. the idea of such a collection of men as make an ARMY, though consisting of a great number of distinct substances, is as much one idea as the idea of a man: and the great collective idea of all bodies whatsoever, signified by the name WORLD, is as much one idea as the idea of any the least particle of matter in it; it sufficing to the unity of any idea, that it be considered as one representation or picture, though made up of ever so many particulars.

Besides complex ideas of SINGLE substances, such as a man, horse, gold, violet, apple, and so on, the mind also has complex COLLECTIVE ideas of substances. I call these ideas collective because they combine many individual substances into one idea. The substances, considered together in this way, are regarded as one. For example, the idea of a collection of men forming an ARMY is as much one idea as a man is. This remains true although an army consists of a great number of distinct substances. Likewise, the great collective idea of all bodies whatsoever, called the WORLD, is as much one idea as its smallest particle of matter is. For an idea to count as one, we need only consider the idea as a single representation or picture. This holds even if the idea is made up of any number of individual things.

2. Made by the Power of composing in the Mind.

2. Made through the mind’s ability to combine ideas.

These collective ideas of substances the mind makes, by its power of composition, and uniting severally either simple or complex ideas into one, as it does, by the same faculty, make the complex ideas of particular substances, consisting of an aggregate of divers simple ideas, united in one substance. And as the mind, by putting together the repeated ideas of unity, makes the collective mode, or complex idea, of any number, as a score, or a gross, &c.,—so, by putting together several particular substances, it makes collective ideas of substances, as a troop, an army, a swarm, a city, a fleet; each of which every one finds that he represents to his own mind by one idea, in one view; and so under that notion considers those several things as perfectly one, as one ship, or one atom. Nor is it harder to conceive how an army of ten thousand men should make one idea than how a man should make one idea; it being as easy to the mind to unite into one the idea of a great number of men, and consider it as one as it is to unite into one particular all the distinct ideas that make up the composition of a man, and consider them all together as one.

The mind forms these collective ideas of substances through its power to combine separate simple or complex ideas into one. The same power allows the mind to form complex ideas of individual substances. Each such idea combines several simple ideas united in one substance. By adding together repeated ideas of one, the mind forms the collective mode, or complex idea, of any number. Examples include a score (twenty), a gross (144), and so on. In the same way, by combining several individual substances, the mind forms collective ideas of substances. Examples include a troop, an army, a swarm, a city, and a fleet. Everyone finds that they picture each of these groups as a single idea, taken in at one glance. In that sense, they consider the separate things as completely one as a single ship or atom. Nor is it harder to understand how ten thousand men form one idea than how one man forms one idea. The mind can easily combine the ideas of many men into one and consider the group as one thing. Combining all the distinct ideas that make up a man, and considering them together as one individual, is just as easy.

3. Artificial things that are made up of distinct substances are our collective Ideas.

3. Man-made things composed of separate substances are our collective ideas.

Amongst such kind of collective ideas are to be counted most part of artificial things, at least such of them as are made up of distinct substances: and, in truth, if we consider all these collective ideas aright, as ARMY, CONSTELLATION, UNIVERSE, as they are united into so many single ideas, they are but the artificial draughts of the mind; bringing things very remote, and independent on one another, into one view, the better to contemplate and discourse on them, united into one conception, and signified by one name. For there are no things so remote, nor so contrary, which the mind cannot, by this art of composition, bring into one idea; as is visible in that signified by the name UNIVERSE.

Most artificial things belong among these collective ideas, at least those made up of distinct substances. Indeed, if we properly consider collective ideas such as ARMY, CONSTELLATION, and UNIVERSE, each forms a single idea. As single ideas, they are merely constructions of the mind. The mind brings things far apart and independent of one another into a single view. By uniting these things in one conception under one name, the mind can more easily consider and discuss them. For nothing is so distant or so unlike anything else that the mind cannot combine them into one idea. The idea expressed by the name UNIVERSE makes this clear.