back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 12949

[from 'New Essays on Human Understanding' by Gottfried Leibniz, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism ]

Full Idea

Since rays of light need time - however little - to reach us, it is possible that the object should be destroyed during the interval and no longer exist when the light reaches the eye.

Gist of Idea

Light takes time to reach us, so objects we see may now not exist

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 2.09)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.135


A Reaction

This is the well know 'time lag' argument. Leibniz is no sceptic, but he can hardly fail to accept the truth of this problem. It seems self-evident that stars we observe may no longer exist, although special relativity confuses that issue.