back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 2076

[from 'Theaetetus' by Plato, in 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / d. Cause of beliefs ]

Full Idea

If the object of a belief is what is not, the object of this belief is nothing; but if there is no object to a belief, then that is not belief at all.

Gist of Idea

How can a belief exist if its object doesn't exist?

Source

Plato (Theaetetus [c.368 BCE], 189a)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Theaetetus', ed/tr. Waterfield,Robin [Penguin 1987], p.95