Single Idea 12562

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty]

Full Idea

General certainty is never to be found but in our ideas.

Gist of Idea

General certainty is only found in ideas

Source

John Locke (Essay Conc Human Understanding (2nd Ed) [1694], 4.06.16)

Book Reference

Locke,John: 'Essay Concerning Human Understanding', ed/tr. Nidditch,P.H. [OUP 1979], p.591


A Reaction

This is a fairly standard empirical view of such things. The obvious opposition to it might be Moore's 'hand' example (Idea 6349), if we ask, which is more certain, this hand I hold up, or this complex proof in mathematics?