Single Idea 3597

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 4. Foundationalism / a. Foundationalism]

Full Idea

I do not explicitly learn the propositions that stand fast for me. I can discover them subsequently like the axis around which a body rotates.

Gist of Idea

Foundations need not precede other beliefs

Source

Ludwig Wittgenstein (On Certainty [1951], §152), quoted by Michael Williams - Problems of Knowledge Ch.14

Book Reference

Williams,Michael: 'Problems of Knowledge' [OUP 2001], p.165


A Reaction

A nice metaphor for the way in which axioms are derived. It is also close to Quine's metaphor of the 'net' of understanding, with the centre area 'standing fast'. Not neat and tidy, though.