Single Idea 4167

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism]

Full Idea

The world has two poles - the knowing subject and crude matter, which are both completely unknowable, the former because it is the knower, the latter because without form and quality it cannot be perceived.

Gist of Idea

The knowing subject and the crude matter of the world are both in themselves unknowable

Source

Arthur Schopenhauer (The World as Will and Idea [1819], I Supp)

Book Reference

Schopenhauer,Arthur: 'The World as Will and Idea', ed/tr. Berman,Jill and David [Everyman 1995], p.20


A Reaction

A nice concept, that all of reality comes from their relationship, but the two components are intrinsically unknowable. Does God the Knower know his own mind?