more on this theme     |     more from this thinker

Single Idea 5012

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

Full Idea

The proposition 'nothing comes from nothing' is not to be considered as an existing thing, or the mode of a thing, but as a certain eternal truth which has its seat in our mind and is a common notion or axiom.

Gist of Idea

'Nothing comes from nothing' is an eternal truth found within the mind

Source

René Descartes (Principles of Philosophy [1646], I.49)

Book Ref

Descartes,René: 'Philosophical Essays and Correspondence', ed/tr. Ariew,Roger [Hackett 2000], p.243

A Reaction

There is a tension here, in his assertion that it is 'eternal', but 'not existing'. How does one distinguish an innate idea from an innate truth? 'Eternal' sounds like an external guarantee of truth, but being 'in our mind' sounds less reliable.

The 23 ideas from 'Principles of Philosophy'

3656 The greatest good for a state is true philosophers [Descartes]
3658 Total doubt can't include your existence while doubting [Descartes]
5004 We can know basic Principles without further knowledge, but not the other way round [Descartes]
12730 We will not try to understand natural or divine ends, or final causes [Descartes]
16601 Matter is not hard, heavy or coloured, but merely extended in space [Descartes]
15987 Physics only needs geometry or abstract mathematics, which can explain and demonstrate everything [Descartes]
5005 I think, therefore I am, because for a thinking thing to not exist is a contradiction [Descartes]
5006 'Thought' is all our conscious awareness, including feeling as well as understanding [Descartes]
5007 Most errors of judgement result from an inaccurate perception of the facts [Descartes]
5009 We do not praise the acts of an efficient automaton, as their acts are necessary [Descartes]
5008 The greatest perfection of man is to act by free will, and thus merit praise or blame [Descartes]
5010 Our free will is so self-evident to us that it must be a basic innate idea [Descartes]
5011 There are two ultimate classes of existence: thinking substance and extended substance [Descartes]
5012 'Nothing comes from nothing' is an eternal truth found within the mind [Descartes]
5013 A substance needs nothing else in order to exist [Descartes]
16630 If we perceive an attribute, we infer the existence of some substance [Descartes]
16633 A substance has one principal property which is its nature and essence [Descartes]
5014 We can understand thinking occuring without imagination or sensation [Descartes]
5016 Five universals: genus, species, difference, property, accident [Descartes]
5015 A universal is a single idea applied to individual things that are similar to one another [Descartes]
5017 In thinking we shut ourselves off from other substances, showing our identity and separateness [Descartes]
5018 Even if tightly united, mind and body are different, as God could separate them [Descartes]
16744 All powers can be explained by obvious features like size, shape and motion of matter [Descartes]