more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 5020

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 4. Foundationalism / d. Rational foundations]

Full Idea

Whatever is thought by us is either conceived through itself, or involves the concept of another. …Thus one must proceed to infinity, or all thoughts are resolved into those which are conceived through themselves.

Gist of Idea

Our thoughts are either dependent, or self-evident. All thoughts seem to end in the self-evident

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Of Organum or Ars Magna of Thinking [1679], p.1)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.1


A Reaction

This seems to embody the rationalist attitude to foundations. I am sympathetic. Experiences just come to us as basic, but they don't qualify as 'thoughts', let alone knowledge. Experiences are more 'given' than 'conceptual'.