Single Idea 22759

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / A. Justification Problems / 1. Justification / b. Need for justification]

Full Idea

The fool and the infant and the madman at times say something true, but they do not possess knowledge of the true.

Gist of Idea

Fools, infants and madmen may speak truly, but do not know

Source

Sextus Empiricus (Against the Logicians (two books) [c.180], I.042)

Book Reference

Sextus Empiricus: 'Against the Logicians', ed/tr. Bury,R.G. [Harvard Loeb 1997], p.21


A Reaction

This may be correct of someone who is insane, but seems unfair to the fool and the infant. At what age do children begin to know things? If speech was just random nonsense, an accidental truth seems impossible.