more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 2602

[filed under theme 12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 4. A Priori as Necessities ]

Full Idea

Please tell me what the corporeal motion is that is capable of forming some common notion to the effect that 'things which are equal to a third thing are equal to each other'.

Gist of Idea

What experience could prove 'If a=c and b=c then a=b'?

Source

René Descartes (Comments on a Certain Broadsheet [1644], p.366)

Book Ref

'The Philosophy of Mind', ed/tr. Beakley,B /Ludlow P [MIT 1992], p.366

The 3 ideas from 'Comments on a Certain Broadsheet'

2600 The mind's innate ideas are part of its capacity for thought [Descartes]
2601 Qualia must be innate, because physical motions do not contain them [Descartes]
2602 What experience could prove 'If a=c and b=c then a=b'? [Descartes]