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Single Idea 2255
[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 4. Foundationalism / a. Foundationalism
]
Full Idea
Archimedes sought but one firm and immovable point in order to move the entire earth. Just so, great things are to be hoped for if I succeed in finding just one thing, however slight, that is certain and unshaken.
Gist of Idea
Only one certainty is needed for progress (like a lever's fulcrum)
Source
René Descartes (Meditations [1641], §2.24)
Book Ref
Descartes,René: 'Discourse on Method/The Meditations', ed/tr. Sutcliffe,F.E. [Penguin 1968], p.102
A Reaction
The classic foundationalist difficulty is that you may find something totally certain, but is it a fulcrum? Or is it just minimal, boring and useless?
The
16 ideas
with the same theme
[claim that knowledge foundations are possible]:
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2081
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Maybe primary elements can be named, but not receive a rational account
[Plato]
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24021
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The method starts with clear intuitions, followed by a process of deduction
[Descartes]
|
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3606
|
I was searching for reliable rock under the shifting sand
[Descartes]
|
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2247
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To achieve good science we must rebuild from the foundations
[Descartes]
|
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2255
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Only one certainty is needed for progress (like a lever's fulcrum)
[Descartes]
|
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5033
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Nothing should be taken as certain without foundations
[Leibniz]
|
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6556
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If anything is to be probable, then something must be certain
[Lewis,CI]
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3597
|
Foundations need not precede other beliefs
[Wittgenstein]
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8790
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The 'doctrine of the given' is correct; some beliefs or statements are self-justifying
[Chisholm]
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8841
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Modern foundationalists say basic beliefs are fallible, and coherence is relevant
[Cleve]
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4255
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Externalist theories of knowledge are one species of foundationalism
[Bonjour]
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2752
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Foundationalism requires inferential and non-inferential justification
[Dancy,J]
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2771
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Foundationalists must accept not only the basic beliefs, but also rules of inference for further progress
[Dancy,J]
|
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8849
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Traditional foundationalism is radically internalist
[Williams,M]
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3753
|
Foundationalism aims to avoid an infinite regress
[Bernecker/Dretske]
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19678
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Strong foundationalism needs strict inferences; weak version has induction, explanation, probability
[Kvanvig]
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