more from Gottfried Leibniz

Single Idea 12998

[catalogued under 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 2. Understanding]

Full Idea

Ordinarily, when ideas are thoroughly understood, their agreements and disagreements are apparent.

Gist of Idea

Understanding grasps the agreements and disagreements of ideas


Gottfried Leibniz (New Essays on Human Understanding [1704], 4.02)

Book Reference

Leibniz,Gottfried: 'New Essays on Human Understanding', ed/tr. Remnant/Bennett [CUP 1996], p.375

A Reaction

In other words, there is a holistic aspect of understanding, which makes us ask how understanding ever gets off the ground. Is it not possible to understand a single idea in isolation?