PHL100Y1 Chapter Notes - Chapter Part 1: Natural Philosophy, Human Nature, Thomas Hobbes
Document Summary
The definitions depends on our sensation of reality. That is why we need reason to put things together to make a whole or break that whole up in parts. True certainty cannot be achieve as long as there are differences in experience and perception. Hobbes thinks there must be some body that appoints definitions of words and first principles. There is no right reason by nature, nature does not give the foundation of knowledge. Definitions are agreed upon because they are determined by a judge whose decisions everyone has agreed to. "reason is reckoning (adding and subtracting) of the consequences of general names agreed upon" The use and end of reason is to begin at the sum, the settled significations of names and then proceed from one consequence to another. There can be no certainty of the last conclusion, without certainty of affirmations and negations.
