2. As, First,identical propositions.
First, All purely identical propositions. These obviously and at first blush appear to
contain no instruction in them; for when we affirm the said term of itself, whether it be barely verbal, or whether
it contains any clear and real idea, it shows us nothing but what we must certainly know before, whether such a
proposition be either made by, or proposed to us. Indeed, that most general one, what is, is, may serve sometimes
to show a man the absurdity he is guilty of, when, by circumlocution or equivocal terms, he would in particular
instances deny the same thing of itself; because nobody will so openly bid defiance to common sense, as to affirm
visible and direct contradictions in plain words; or, if he does, a man is excused if he breaks off any further
discourse with him. But yet I think I may say, that neither that received maxim, nor any other identical
proposition, teaches us anything; and though in such kind of propositions this great and magnified maxim, boasted
to be the foundation of demonstration, may be and often is made use of to confirm them, yet all it proves amounts
to no more than this, That the same word may with great certainty be affirmed of itself, without any doubt of the
truth of any such proposition; and let me add, also, without any real knowledge.
