I answer, That Action and Passion are doubtless, as they are sometimes used, Words of opposite Signification; but not as signifying opposite Existences, but only opposite Relations. The Words Cause and Effect are Terms of opposite Signification; but nevertheless, if I assert that the same Thing may at the same Time, in different Respects and Relations, be both Cause and Effect, this will not prove that I confound the Terms. The Soul may be both active and passive in the same Thing in different Respects, active with Relation to one Thing, and passive with Relation to another. The Word Passion when set in Opposition to Action or rather Activeness, is merely a relative Term: it signifies no Effect or Cause, nor any proper Existence; but is the same with Passiveness, or a being passive, or a being acted upon by something. Which is a mere Relation of a Thing to some Power or Force exerted by some Cause, producing some Effect in it, or upon it. And Action, when set properly in Opposition to Passion, or Passiveness, is no real Existence; it is not the same with AN Action, but is a mere Relation: 'Tis the Activeness of something on another Thing, being the opposite Relation to the other, viz. a Relation of Power, or Force exerted by some Cause, towards another Thing, which is the Subject of the Effect of that Power. Indeed the Word Action is frequently used to signify something not merely relative, but more absolute, and a real Existence; as when we say An Action; when the Word is not used transitively, but absolutely, for some Motion or Exercise of Body or Mind, without any Relation to any Object or Effect: And as used thus, it is not properly the opposite of Passion; which ordinarily signifies nothing absolute, but merely the Relation of being acted upon. And therefore if the Word Action be used in the like relative Sense, then Action and Passion are only two contrary Relations. And 'tis no Absurdity ⟨p. 204⟩to suppose, that contrary Relations may belong to the same Thing, at the same Time, with respect to different Things. So to suppose, that there are Acts of the Soul by which a Man voluntarily moves, and acts upon Objects, and produces Effects, which yet themselves are Effects of something else, and wherein the Soul it self is the Object of something acting upon, and influencing that, don't at all confound Action and Passion.
I answer, That Action and Passion are doubtless, as they are sometimes used, Words of opposite Signification; but not as signifying opposite Existences, but only opposite Relations. The Words Cause and Effect are Terms of opposite Signification; but nevertheless, if I assert that the same Thing may at the same Time, in different Respects and Relations, be both Cause and Effect, this will not prove that I confound the Terms. The Soul may be both active and passive in the same Thing in different Respects, active with Relation to one Thing, and passive with Relation to another. The Word Passion when set in Opposition to Action or rather Activeness, is meerly a relative Term: it signifies no Effect or Cause, nor any proper Existence; but is the same with Passiveness, or a being passive, or a being acted upon by something. Which is a meer Relation of a Thing to some Power or Force exerted by some Cause, producing some Effect in it, or upon it. And Action, when set properly in Opposition to Passion, or Passiveness, is no real Existence; it is not the same with AN Action, but is a meer Relation: 'Tis the Activeness of something on another Thing, being the opposite Relation to the other, viz. a Relation of Power, or Force exerted by some Cause, towards another Thing, which is the Subject of the Effect of that Power. Indeed the Word Action is frequently used to signify something not meerly relative, but more absolute, and a real Existence; as when we say An Action; when the Word is not used transitively, but absolutely, for some Motion or Exercise of Body or Mind, without any Relation to any Object or Effect: And as used thus, it is not properly the opposite of Passion; which ordinarily signifies nothing absolute, but meerly the Relation of being acted upon. And therefore if the Word Action be used in the like relative Sense, then Action and Passion are only two contrary Relations. And 'tis no Absurdity ⟨p. 204⟩to suppose, that contrary Relations may belong to the same Thing, at the same Time, with respect to different Things. So to suppose, that there are Acts of the Soul by which a Man voluntarily moves, and acts upon Objects, and produces Effects, which yet themselves are Effects of something else, and wherein the Soul it self is the Object of something acting upon, and influencing that, don't at all confound Action and Passion.
