Single Idea 13009

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 1. On Reason]

Full Idea

A reason is a known truth whose connection with some less well-known truth leads us to give our assent to the latter.

Gist of Idea

A reason is a known truth which leads to assent to some further truth

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 4.17)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.475


A Reaction

This is plainly false, because you can have a reason for believing something, but still not give your assent to it, presumably because of counter-reasons. And a false belief could also be a reason, even to believe a truth. Tut tut.