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Single Idea 1685
[filed under theme 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs
]
Full Idea
No one holds something as an opinion when he thinks that it is impossible for it to be otherwise - for then he thinks he understands it.
Gist of Idea
No one has mere belief about something if they think it HAS to be true
Source
Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 89a07)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.45
The
72 ideas
from 'Posterior Analytics'
11994
|
Aristotelian essences are properties mentioned at the starting point of a science
[Aristotle, by Kung]
|
12072
|
For Aristotle knowledge is explanatory, involving understanding, and principles or causes
[Aristotle, by Witt]
|
12073
|
'Episteme' means grasping causes, universal judgments, explanation, and teaching
[Aristotle, by Witt]
|
23309
|
Aristotle's concepts of understanding and explanation mean he is not a pure empiricist
[Aristotle, by Frede,M]
|
17310
|
Aristotle gets asymmetric consequence from demonstration, which reflects real causal priority
[Aristotle, by Koslicki]
|
21359
|
Aristotle doesn't actually apply his theory of demonstration to his practical science
[Leroi on Aristotle]
|
24068
|
Demonstration is more than entailment, as the explanatory order must match the causal order
[Aristotle, by Koslicki]
|
12357
|
Explanation and generality are inseparable
[Aristotle, by Wedin]
|
12363
|
Everything is either asserted or denied truly
[Aristotle]
|
12364
|
We understand a thing when we know its explanation and its necessity
[Aristotle]
|
12365
|
We can know by demonstration, which is a scientific deduction leading to understanding
[Aristotle]
|
1667
|
Premises must be true, primitive and immediate, and prior to and explanatory of conclusions
[Aristotle]
|
12366
|
We only understand something when we know its explanation
[Aristotle]
|
12367
|
What is most universal is furthest away, and the particulars are nearest
[Aristotle]
|
12368
|
Negation takes something away from something
[Aristotle]
|
1668
|
An axiom is a principle which must be understood if one is to learn anything
[Aristotle]
|
12369
|
A unit is what is quantitatively indivisible
[Aristotle]
|
1669
|
The foundation or source is stronger than the thing it causes
[Aristotle]
|
1670
|
When you understand basics, you can't be persuaded to change your mind
[Aristotle]
|
1671
|
Sceptics say justification is an infinite regress, or it stops at the unknowable
[Aristotle]
|
1672
|
Maybe everything could be demonstrated, if demonstration can be reciprocal or circular
[Aristotle]
|
12370
|
Some understanding, of immediate items, is indemonstrable
[Aristotle]
|
12371
|
A demonstration is a deduction which proceeds from necessities
[Aristotle]
|
12372
|
The essence of a triangle comes from the line, mentioned in any account of triangles
[Aristotle]
|
12373
|
Something holds universally when it is proved of an arbitrary and primitive case
[Aristotle]
|
10918
|
Demonstrative understanding rests on necessary features of the thing in itself
[Aristotle]
|
12374
|
Demonstrations must be necessary, and that depends on the middle term
[Aristotle]
|
12375
|
Whatever holds of a kind intrinsically holds of it necessarily
[Aristotle]
|
1673
|
Knowledge proceeds from principles, so it is hard to know if we know
[Aristotle]
|
1674
|
All demonstration is concerned with existence, axioms and properties
[Aristotle]
|
13004
|
Aristotle's axioms (unlike Euclid's) are assumptions awaiting proof
[Aristotle, by Leibniz]
|
1675
|
Separate Forms aren't needed for logic, but universals (one holding of many) are essential
[Aristotle]
|
12376
|
Demonstrations by reductio assume excluded middle
[Aristotle]
|
12377
|
Mathematics is concerned with forms, not with superficial properties
[Aristotle]
|
12378
|
The reason why is the key to knowledge
[Aristotle]
|
16725
|
Some knowledge is lost if you lose a sense, and there is no way the knowledge can be replaced
[Aristotle]
|
1677
|
We can forget the Forms, as they are irrelevant, and not needed in giving demonstrations
[Aristotle]
|
12148
|
Demonstrations are syllogisms which give explanations
[Aristotle]
|
1678
|
Universals give better explanations, because they are self-explanatory and primitive
[Aristotle]
|
1679
|
Universal demonstrations are about thought; particular demonstrations lead to perceptions
[Aristotle]
|
1680
|
Demonstration is better with fewer presuppositions, and it is quicker if these are familiar
[Aristotle]
|
1681
|
Units are positionless substances, and points are substances with position
[Aristotle]
|
12379
|
You cannot understand anything through perception
[Aristotle]
|
1683
|
We learn universals from many particulars
[Aristotle]
|
12380
|
Universals are valuable because they make the explanations plain
[Aristotle]
|
1684
|
Two falsehoods can be contrary to one another
[Aristotle]
|
12381
|
What is necessary cannot be otherwise
[Aristotle]
|
1685
|
No one has mere belief about something if they think it HAS to be true
[Aristotle]
|
1686
|
What we seek and understand are facts, reasons, existence, and identity
[Aristotle]
|
12382
|
What it is and why it is are the same; screening defines and explains an eclipse
[Aristotle]
|
12145
|
Definitions are of what something is, and that is universal
[Aristotle]
|
12146
|
Definitions recognise essences, so are not themselves essences
[Aristotle]
|
12147
|
The principles of demonstrations are definitions
[Aristotle]
|
12383
|
There must be definitions before demonstration is possible
[Aristotle]
|
1687
|
Why are being terrestrial and a biped combined in the definition of man, but being literate and musical aren't?
[Aristotle]
|
1688
|
Properties must be proved, but not essence; but existents are not a kind, so existence isn't part of essence
[Aristotle]
|
1689
|
Explanation is of the status of a thing, inferences to it, initiation of change, and purpose
[Aristotle]
|
1690
|
A stone travels upwards by a forced necessity, and downwards by natural necessity
[Aristotle]
|
17039
|
The predicates of a thing's nature are necessary to it
[Aristotle]
|
1691
|
Aim to get definitions of the primitive components, thus establishing the kind, and work towards the attributes
[Aristotle]
|
12384
|
Definition by division needs predicates, which are well ordered and thorough
[Aristotle]
|
9066
|
You can define objects by progressively identifying what is the same and what is different
[Aristotle]
|
1692
|
If you shouldn't argue in metaphors, then you shouldn't try to define them either
[Aristotle]
|
12385
|
Are particulars explained more by universals, or by other particulars?
[Aristotle]
|
1693
|
Animals may have some knowledge if they retain perception, but understanding requires reasons to be given
[Aristotle]
|
9067
|
Many memories of the same item form a single experience
[Aristotle]
|
9068
|
Perception creates primitive immediate principles by building a series of firm concepts
[Aristotle]
|
9069
|
A perception lodging in the soul creates a primitive universal, which becomes generalised
[Aristotle]
|
9070
|
We learn primitives and universals by induction from perceptions
[Aristotle]
|
18910
|
To seek truth, study the real connections between subjects and attributes
[Aristotle]
|
11283
|
There is pure deductive reasoning, and explanatory demonstration reasoning
[Aristotle, by Politis]
|
12075
|
An Aristotelian definition is causal
[Aristotle, by Witt]
|