Single Idea 24029

[catalogued under 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / d. Non-being]

Full Idea

Among the simple things, we must also place their negation and deprivation, insofar as they fall under out intelligence, because the idea of nothingness, of the instant, of rest, is no less true an idea than that of existence, of duration, of motion.

Gist of Idea

Among the simples are the graspable negations, such as rest and instants

Source

René Descartes (Rules for the Direction of the Mind [1628], 12)

Book Reference

Descartes,René: 'Rules for the Direction of the Mind' [Newcomb Library 2023], p.39


A Reaction

He sees the 'simple' things as the foundation of all knowledge, because they are self-evident. Not sure about 'no less true', since the specific nothings are parasitic on the somethings.