Single Idea 2945

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / C. History of Philosophy / 4. Later European Philosophy / b. Seventeenth century philosophy]

Full Idea

Some philosophers (e.g Plato) begin with an account of reality, and then appended an account of how we can know it, ..but Descartes turned the tables, insisting that we must first decide what we can know.

Gist of Idea

Most philosophers start with reality and then examine knowledge; Descartes put the study of knowledge first

Source

Keith Lehrer (Theory of Knowledge (2nd edn) [2000], I p.2)

Book Reference

Lehrer,Keith: 'Theory of Knowledge' [Westview 2000], p.2

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