Full Idea
Instead of supposing that what we know can be abstracted from sensible particulars that instantiate such knowledge, Augustine insists that our mind is so constituted as to see 'intelligible realities' directly by inner illumination.
Gist of Idea
Our minds grasp reality by direct illumination (rather than abstraction from experience)
Source
report of Augustine (works [c.415]) by Gareth B. Matthews - Augustine p.74
Book Reference
'Shorter Routledge Encyclopaedia of Philosophy', ed/tr. Craig,Edward [Routledge 2005], p.74
A Reaction
His 'theory of illumination'. This seems to be a sort of super-rationalism. This doesn't make clear the role of sensations. Surely he doesn't thing that we just bypass them?
Related Idea
Idea 22128 Augustine's 'illumination' theory of knowledge leads to nothing but scepticism [Duns Scotus, by Dumont]