more from this thinker
|
more from this text
Single Idea 1673
[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty
]
Full Idea
It is difficult to know whether you know something or not. For it is difficult to know whether or not our knowledge of something proceeds from its principles - and this is what it is to know something.
Gist of Idea
Knowledge proceeds from principles, so it is hard to know if we know
Source
Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 76a25)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.14
The
34 ideas
with the same theme
[possibility or necessity of certainty in knowledge]:
389
|
How can you be certain about aspects of the world if they aren't constant?
[Plato]
|
1673
|
Knowledge proceeds from principles, so it is hard to know if we know
[Aristotle]
|
23175
|
The conclusions of speculative reason about necessities are certain
[Aquinas]
|
22129
|
Certainty comes from the self-evident, from induction, and from self-awareness
[Duns Scotus, by Dumont]
|
9090
|
Knowledge is certain cognition of something that is true
[William of Ockham]
|
24019
|
If we accept mere probabilities as true we undermine our existing knowledge
[Descartes]
|
9807
|
In pursuing truth, anything less certain than mathematics is a waste of time
[Descartes]
|
1583
|
In morals Descartes accepts the conventional, but rejects it in epistemology
[Roochnik on Descartes]
|
1585
|
Descartes tried to model reason on maths instead of 'logos'
[Roochnik on Descartes]
|
1582
|
Labelling slightly doubtful things as false is irrational
[Roochnik on Descartes]
|
2256
|
Maybe there is only one certain fact, which is that nothing is certain
[Descartes]
|
3657
|
Understanding, not the senses, gives certainty
[Descartes]
|
17193
|
True ideas intrinsically involve the highest degree of certainty
[Spinoza]
|
21863
|
You only know you are certain of something when you actually are certain of it
[Spinoza]
|
17199
|
A man who assents without doubt to a falsehood is not certain, but lacks a cause to make him waver
[Spinoza]
|
15995
|
The greatest certainty is knowing our own ideas, and that two ideas are different
[Locke]
|
12562
|
General certainty is only found in ideas
[Locke]
|
15994
|
If it is knowledge, it is certain; if it isn't certain, it isn't knowledge
[Locke]
|
13006
|
Certainty is where practical doubt is insane, or at least blameworthy
[Leibniz]
|
21772
|
In absolute knowing, the gap between object and oneself closes, producing certainty
[Hegel]
|
14858
|
Being certain presumes that there are absolute truths, and means of arriving at them
[Nietzsche]
|
4487
|
A note for asses: What convinces is not necessarily true - it is merely convincing
[Nietzsche]
|
22867
|
The quest for certainty aims for peace, and avoidance of the stress of action
[Dewey]
|
21516
|
We want certainty in order to achieve secure results for action
[Dewey]
|
9636
|
My theory aims at the certitude of mathematical methods
[Hilbert]
|
5936
|
Knowledge is superior to opinion because it is certain
[Ross]
|
23073
|
Convictions are failures to study anything thoroughly
[Cioran]
|
23078
|
Opinions are fine, but having convictions means something has gone wrong
[Cioran]
|
5183
|
Only tautologies can be certain; other propositions can only be probable
[Ayer]
|
2745
|
A pupil who lacks confidence may clearly know something but not be certain of it
[Dancy,J]
|
3582
|
Propositions make error possible, so basic experiential knowledge is impossible
[Williams,M]
|
2736
|
We can make certain of what we know, so knowing does not entail certainty
[Audi,R]
|
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]
|