Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Anaxarchus, Mary Astell and Democritus

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4 ideas

12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / a. Qualities in perception
1532 Sensible qualities can't be real if they appear different to different creatures [Democritus, by Theophrastus]
     Full Idea: As proof of the fact that sensible qualities have no real existence he points to the fact that they do not appear the same to all creatures.
     From: report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], A135) by Theophrastus - On the Senses 63
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 3. Representation
20894 Man is separated from reality [Democritus]
     Full Idea: It is necessary to recognise that man by virtue of this criterion is separated from reality.
     From: Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], B006), quoted by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Logicians (two books) 7.137
     A reaction: I don't know what 'this criterion' is, but it strikes me as quite a good slogan for fans (like myself) of the representative theory of perception. Critics say it is the big objection to the representative theory, but I say 'get over it'.
12. Knowledge Sources / C. Rationalism / 1. Rationalism
517 All evidence comes from senses, so they are indispensable to the mind [Democritus]
     Full Idea: Mind must never reject the senses, because that is where it gets its evidence, and it would be the mind's downfall.
     From: Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], B125), quoted by Galen - On Medical Experience 15.8
20897 Obscure knowledge belongs to the five senses, and genuine knowledge is the other type [Democritus]
     Full Idea: There are two forms of knowledge [gnomé], the one genuine, the other obscure. And to the obscure one belongs all of these: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch. The other is genuine, and is separated from this one.
     From: Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], B011), quoted by Sextus Empiricus - Against the Logicians (two books) 7.139
     A reaction: [Sextus goes on to make it clear that the 'genuine' one is knowledge acquired by thought]. I take Parmenides to be the first rationalist. It is interesting that Democritus, who devoted his life to finding causal explanations, seems to be a rationalist.