existence within estimation. Hence estimation assists reason with the premises that establish the existence of those principles; but when they proceed together to the conclusion, estimation recoils and refuses to accept what it has already conceded the grounds for.

This class of propositions has a stronger hold on the soul than generally accepted propositions that are not self-evident. They almost resemble self-evident propositions and fall among those that resemble them. They are firm convictions of the soul concerning matters prior to sensible things, or more general than they are, attributing to them what they ought not to possess, but what sensible things ought, or are thought, to possess. Examples include the belief of one who relies on such judgments that, if occupied space is finite, it must end at a void, and that every existing thing must have a direction in which its existence can be pointed out.

Were it not for their conflict with the prescriptions of revealed law, these propositions based on estimation would be generally accepted. Only true religions and the philosophical sciences undermine their general acceptance. Even someone turned away from them can scarcely overcome his own inward resistance when rejecting them, so overwhelming is estimation’s sway: whatever estimation rejects and refuses to accept, if it concerns sensible things