Philosophy 2202F/G Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Human Nature, Michel De Montaigne, Fideism
18 Jan 2017
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Two foundations to attack: criterion for knowledge, criterion for truth in general. Our failure to know, especially that ok the so-called experts, indicated that the problem is systemic, built into human nature, and consequently ineliminable, rather than accident to those few of us. The peccant of reason accorded us is so small and weak that our judgements are necessarily fickle, determined by passions, prejudiced, custom, and accidents rather than by evidence, truth, and reason (124-137, 140-148) Sensation cannot be used as a source for truths and principles. Because the variability and relativity of sensation in necessary, built into human nature . Argument from differences among the context/circumstances of perception: eg. Argument from differences among positions: eg. A tower looks small from far away but is actually huge up close. Fideism reaction (montaigne is saying do this instead of following reason): abandon reason and embrace faith. Reason will eventually turn on itself and consume itself.
