Single Idea 19397

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 1. Knowledge]

Full Idea

The mark of perfect knowledge is that nothing appears in the thing under consideration which cannot be accounted for, and that nothing is encountered whose occurrence cannot be predicted in advance.

Gist of Idea

Perfect knowledge implies complete explanations and perfect prediction

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (On Wisdom [1693], 1)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Leibniz Selections', ed/tr. Wiener,Philip P. [Scribners 1951], p.79


A Reaction

I would track both of these back to the concept of perfect understanding, which is admittedly a bit vague. Does a finite mind need to predict every speck of dust to have perfect knowledge? Do we have perfect knowledge of triangles?