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Single Idea 12562
[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty
]
Full Idea
General certainty is never to be found but in our ideas.
Gist of Idea
General certainty is only found in ideas
Source
John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.06.16)
Book Ref
Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.591
A Reaction
This is a fairly standard empirical view of such things. The obvious opposition to it might be Moore's 'hand' example (Idea 6349), if we ask, which is more certain, this hand I hold up, or this complex proof in mathematics?
The
34 ideas
with the same theme
[possibility or necessity of certainty in knowledge]:
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389
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How can you be certain about aspects of the world if they aren't constant?
[Plato]
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1673
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Knowledge proceeds from principles, so it is hard to know if we know
[Aristotle]
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23175
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The conclusions of speculative reason about necessities are certain
[Aquinas]
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22129
|
Certainty comes from the self-evident, from induction, and from self-awareness
[Duns Scotus, by Dumont]
|
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9090
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Knowledge is certain cognition of something that is true
[William of Ockham]
|
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24019
|
If we accept mere probabilities as true we undermine our existing knowledge
[Descartes]
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9807
|
In pursuing truth, anything less certain than mathematics is a waste of time
[Descartes]
|
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1583
|
In morals Descartes accepts the conventional, but rejects it in epistemology
[Roochnik on Descartes]
|
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1585
|
Descartes tried to model reason on maths instead of 'logos'
[Roochnik on Descartes]
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1582
|
Labelling slightly doubtful things as false is irrational
[Roochnik on Descartes]
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2256
|
Maybe there is only one certain fact, which is that nothing is certain
[Descartes]
|
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3657
|
Understanding, not the senses, gives certainty
[Descartes]
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17193
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True ideas intrinsically involve the highest degree of certainty
[Spinoza]
|
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21863
|
You only know you are certain of something when you actually are certain of it
[Spinoza]
|
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17199
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A man who assents without doubt to a falsehood is not certain, but lacks a cause to make him waver
[Spinoza]
|
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15995
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The greatest certainty is knowing our own ideas, and that two ideas are different
[Locke]
|
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12562
|
General certainty is only found in ideas
[Locke]
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15994
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If it is knowledge, it is certain; if it isn't certain, it isn't knowledge
[Locke]
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13006
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Certainty is where practical doubt is insane, or at least blameworthy
[Leibniz]
|
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21772
|
In absolute knowing, the gap between object and oneself closes, producing certainty
[Hegel]
|
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14858
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Being certain presumes that there are absolute truths, and means of arriving at them
[Nietzsche]
|
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4487
|
A note for asses: What convinces is not necessarily true - it is merely convincing
[Nietzsche]
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22867
|
The quest for certainty aims for peace, and avoidance of the stress of action
[Dewey]
|
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21516
|
We want certainty in order achieve secure results for action
[Dewey]
|
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9636
|
My theory aims at the certitude of mathematical methods
[Hilbert]
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5936
|
Knowledge is superior to opinion because it is certain
[Ross]
|
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23073
|
Convictions are failures to study anything thoroughly
[Cioran]
|
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23078
|
Opinions are fine, but having convictions means something has gone wrong
[Cioran]
|
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5183
|
Only tautologies can be certain; other propositions can only be probable
[Ayer]
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2745
|
A pupil who lacks confidence may clearly know something but not be certain of it
[Dancy,J]
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3582
|
Propositions make error possible, so basic experiential knowledge is impossible
[Williams,M]
|
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2736
|
We can make certain of what we know, so knowing does not entail certainty
[Audi,R]
|
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6351
|
Most people now agree that our reasoning proceeds defeasibly, rather than deductively
[Pollock/Cruz]
|
|
6374
|
To believe maximum truths, believe everything; to have infallible beliefs, believe nothing
[Pollock/Cruz]
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