That which I would further conclude from hence is, that since the mind can sensibly put on, at several times, several degrees of thinking, and be sometimes, even in a waking man, so remiss, as to have thoughts dim and obscure to that degree that they are very little removed from none at all; and at last, in the dark retirements of sound sleep, loses the sight perfectly of all ideas whatsoever: since, I say, this is evidently so in matter of fact and constant experience, I ask whether it be not probable, that thinking is the action and not the essence of the soul? Since the operations of agents will easily admit of intention and remission: but the essences of things are not conceived capable of any such variation.
Baina nik honen guztiaren ondorioz galdera bat egiten dut, alegia, gogamenak aldi diferenteetan pentsamendu maila ezberdinak erabil ditzakeenez eta batzuetan, itzarrik baina oharkabe dagoen gizakiarengan ere, pentsamendu bat ere ez daukala ematerainoko pentsamendu ilunak dituenez eta, azkenez, lo sakonaren erretiro ilun horretan ideia oro bistatik galtzen duenez gero, hau guztia, esan nahi dut, errealitatean eta etengabeko esperientzian horrelaxe dela bistakoa denez gero, galdetzen dut ea ez ote den daitekeena pentsamendua arimaren esentzia barik, haren ekintza izatea, eragileen eragiketek erraz onartzen baitute apeta eta oharkabetasuna, gauzen esentziek, ordea, horrelako gorabeherarik ez duten artean.