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Single Idea 12365

[from 'Posterior Analytics' by Aristotle, in 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 2. Demonstration ]

Full Idea

We know things through demonstration, by which I mean a scientific deduction, and by 'scientific' I mean a deduction by possessing which we understand something.

Gist of Idea

We can know by demonstration, which is a scientific deduction leading to understanding

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 71b17)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.2


A Reaction

This is a distinctively Aristotelian account of what science aims at, and which seems to have dropped out of modern accounts of science, which are still under the influence of logical positivism. Time to revive it.