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Single Idea 1821

[from 'fragments/reports' by Epicurus, in 12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 5. Interpretation ]

Full Idea

Sensation is out of reach of control, because one sensation cannot judge another which resembles itself, as they have equal value, and different sensations have different objects.

Gist of Idea

Sensations cannot be judged, because similar sensations have equal value, and different ones have nothing in common

Source

report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 10.20

Book Reference

Diogenes Laertius: 'Diogenes Laertius', ed/tr. Yonge,C.D. [Henry G. Bohn 1853], p.435


A Reaction

Scepticism about the possibility of purely empirical knowledge; an interesting comment on the question of whether perceptions contain any intrinsic knowledge.