Single Idea 20219

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 3. Value of Knowledge]

Full Idea

True opinions are a fine thing and all they do is good, …but they escape from a man's mind, so they are not worth much until one ties them down by (giving) an account of the reason why.

Gist of Idea

True opinions only become really valuable when they are tied down by reasons

Source

Plato (Meno [c.376 BCE], 98a3)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.895


A Reaction

This gives justification the role of guarantee, stabilising and securing true beliefs (rather than triggering some new thing called 'knowledge').