Single Idea 95

[catalogued under 12. Knowledge Sources / E. Direct Knowledge / 1. Common Sense]

Full Idea

What everyone believes is so.

Gist of Idea

If everyone believes it, it is true

Source

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics [c.334 BCE], 1173a01)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Ethics (Nicomachean)', ed/tr. ThomsonJ A K/TredennickH [Penguin 1976], p.314


A Reaction

Would you think me terribly unfashionable if I agreed with this? Huge numbers of people can be wrong, but if 'everyone' believes something it seems crazy to go against it.

Related Ideas

Idea 22141 It is enough if we refute the objections and leave common opinions undisturbed [Aristotle]

Idea 23633 Many truths seem obvious, and point to universal agreement - which is what we find [Reid]