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Single Idea 14830

[from 'Human, All Too Human' by Friedrich Nietzsche, in 12. Knowledge Sources / E. Direct Knowledge / 2. Intuition ]

Full Idea

'To intuit' does not mean to recognise the existence of a thing to any extent, but rather to hold it to be possible, in that one wishes or fears it. 'Intuition' takes us not one step farther into the land of certainty.

Gist of Idea

Intuition only recognises what is possible, not what exists or is certain

Source

Friedrich Nietzsche (Human, All Too Human [1878], 131)

Book Reference

Nietzsche,Friedrich: 'Human, All Too Human', ed/tr. Faber,Marion [Penguin 1994], p.90


A Reaction

I like this remark. I am sympathetic to the view that the actual world has modal properties (in opposition to Sider, for example). To apprehend dispositions is precisely to apprehend possibilities. Intuition is a thousand interwoven inductions.