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Single Idea 14774

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / a. Innate knowledge ]

Full Idea

It seems to me there is the most historic proof that innate truths are particularly uncertain and mixed up with error, and therefore a fortiori not without exception.

Clarification

'A fortiori' means 'even more obviously'

Gist of Idea

Innate truths are very uncertain and full of error, so they certainly have exceptions

Source

Charles Sanders Peirce (Scientific Attitude and Fallibilism [1899], II)

Book Ref

Peirce,Charles Sanders: 'Philosophical Writings of Peirce', ed/tr. Buchler,Justus [Dover 1940], p.57


The 8 ideas from 'Scientific Attitude and Fallibilism'

Only imagination can connect phenomena together in a rational way [Peirce]
Numbers are just names devised for counting [Peirce]
That two two-eyed people must have four eyes is a statement about numbers, not a fact [Peirce]
If we decide an idea is inspired, we still can't be sure we have got the idea right [Peirce]
Only reason can establish whether some deliverance of revelation really is inspired [Peirce]
Reasoning is based on statistical induction, so it can't achieve certainty or precision [Peirce]
Innate truths are very uncertain and full of error, so they certainly have exceptions [Peirce]
A truth is hard for us to understand if it rests on nothing but inspiration [Peirce]