Note 11 — NOTES.1
Gertrude Carman Bussey translation
This doctrine is opposed to the teaching of Descartes, who insists that “neither our imagination nor our senses can give us assurance of anything unless our understanding intervene.”11 Moreover Descartes believes that the senses are fallacious, and that the ideal method for philosophy is a method corresponding to that of mathematics.12 Condillac and Holbach agree with La Mettrie’s opinion. Thus, Condillac teaches that man is nothing more than what he has become by the use of his senses.13 And Holbach says: “As soon as we take leave of experience, we fall into the chasm where our imagination leads us astray.”14