Full Idea
One should choose the more intelligible hypothesis, and the truth is nothing but its intelligibility.
Gist of Idea
Choose the true hypothesis, which is the most intelligible one
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (On Copernicanism and Relativity of Motion [1689], p.91)
Book Reference
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Essays', ed/tr. Arlew,R /Garber,D [Hackett 1989], p.91
A Reaction
This apparently simple observation strikes me as being rather profound. Our picture of the world is shaped entirely by what is intelligible to us. An odd notion of truth, though. The age of reason. See Idea 13158.
Related Idea
Idea 13158 The Copernican theory is right because it is the only one offering a good explanation [Leibniz]