Single Idea 5033

[catalogued under 13. Knowledge Criteria / B. Internal Justification / 4. Foundationalism / a. Foundationalism]

Full Idea

Nothing should be taken as certain without foundations.

Gist of Idea

Nothing should be taken as certain without foundations

Source

Gottfried Leibniz (Letters to Antoine Arnauld [1686], 1687.04.30)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.71


A Reaction

This might leave open the option, if you were a modern 'Fallibilist', that something might lack foundations, and so not be certain, and yet still qualify as 'knowledge'. That is my view. Knowledge resides somewhere between opinion and certainty.