Single Idea 5936

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 1. Certainty]

Full Idea

Knowledge is superior in value to opinion because it has certainty or complete absence of doubt.

Gist of Idea

Knowledge is superior to opinion because it is certain

Source

W. David Ross (The Right and the Good [1930], §VI)

Book Reference

Ross,W.David: 'The Right and the Good' [OUP 1930], p.147


A Reaction

This strikes me as a classic blunder, dating back to Descartes, which I think of as 'setting the bar too high'. It leads without fail to scepticism, because certainty is simply impossible for human beings. I am a committed fallibilist about knowledge.