Single Idea 9100

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs]

Full Idea

Our intellect does not assent to anything unless we believe it to be true.

Gist of Idea

Our intellect only assents to what we believe to be true

Source

William of Ockham (Prologue to Ordinatio [1320], Q 1 N sqq)

Book Reference

Ockham,William of: 'Ockham's Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Boehner,P [Hackett 1990], p.18


A Reaction

This strikes me as being a much more accurate and commonsense view of belief than that of Hume, who simply views it phenomenologically. ...But then the remark appears to be circular. Belief requires a belief that it is true. Hm.