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Full Idea
There are many truths so obvious to the human faculties, that it should be expected that men should universally agree in them. And this is actually found to be the case with regard to many truths, against which we find no dissent.
Gist of Idea
Many truths seem obvious, and point to universal agreement - which is what we find
Source
Thomas Reid (Essays on Intellectual Powers 1: Preliminary [1785], 2)
Book Ref
Reid,Thomas: 'Inquiry and Essays', ed/tr. Beanblossom /K.Lehrer [Hackett 1983], p.156
A Reaction
He says that a few sceptical philosophers may disagree. This is a nice statement of his creed of common sense. I agree with him, and Aristotle observes the same fact.
Related Idea
Idea 95 If everyone believes it, it is true [Aristotle]
| 22141 | It is enough if we refute the objections and leave common opinions undisturbed [Aristotle] |
| 95 | If everyone believes it, it is true [Aristotle] |
| 6492 | Reid is seen as the main direct realist of the eighteenth century [Reid, by Robinson,H] |
| 23654 | In obscure matters the few must lead the many, but the many usually lead in common sense [Reid] |
| 23633 | Many truths seem obvious, and point to universal agreement - which is what we find [Reid] |
| 8794 | There are very few really obvious truths, and not much can be proved from them [Sosa] |
| 2960 | Commonsense realism must account for the similarity of genuine perceptions and known illusions [Lockwood] |
| 22668 | Apprehension is a complex intellect grasping the essence of a complex object [Holt,L] |
| 14466 | A chief task of philosophy is making reflective sense of our common sense worldview [Thomasson] |