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Single Idea 24021

[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 4. Foundationalism / a. Foundationalism ]

Full Idea

If the method shows clearly how we must use intuition to avoid mistaking the false for the true, and how deduction must operate to lead us to the knowledge of all things, it will be complete in my opinion.

Gist of Idea

The method starts with clear intuitions, followed by a process of deduction

Source

René Descartes (Rules for the Direction of the Mind [1628], 04)

Book Ref

Descartes,René: 'Rules for the Direction of the Mind' [Newcomb Library 2023], p.13


A Reaction

A perfect statement of his foundationalist view. It needs a clear and distinct basis, and the steps of building must be strictly logical. Of course, most of our knowledge relies on induction, rather than deduction.

Related Idea

Idea 24020 We all see intuitively that we exist, where intuition is attentive, clear and distinct rational understanding [Descartes]


The 19 ideas from 'Rules for the Direction of the Mind'

One truth leads us to another [Descartes]
If we accept mere probabilities as true we undermine our existing knowledge [Descartes]
We all see intuitively that we exist, where intuition is attentive, clear and distinct rational understanding [Descartes]
Our souls possess divine seeds of knowledge, which can bear spontaneous fruit [Descartes]
The method starts with clear intuitions, followed by a process of deduction [Descartes]
All the sciences searching for order and measure are related to mathematics [Descartes]
The secret of the method is to recognise which thing in a series is the simplest [Descartes]
Clear and distinct truths must be known all at once (unlike deductions) [Descartes]
The force by which we know things is spiritual, and quite distinct from the body [Descartes]
Nerves and movement originate in the brain, where imagination moves them [Descartes]
Our four knowledge faculties are intelligence, imagination, the senses, and memory [Descartes]
When Socrates doubts, he know he doubts, and that truth is possible [Descartes]
Among the simples are the graspable negations, such as rest and instants [Descartes]
3+4=7 is necessary because we cannot conceive of seven without including three and four [Descartes]
Clever scholars can obscure things which are obvious even to peasants [Descartes]
Most scholastic disputes concern words, where agreeing on meanings would settle them [Descartes]
Unity is something shared by many things, so in that respect they are equals [Descartes]
I can only see the proportion of two to three if there is a common measure - their unity [Descartes]
If someone had only seen the basic colours, they could deduce the others from resemblance [Descartes]