Philosophy 1020 Lecture 4: Knowledge and belief
7 Dec 2017
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We have a faculty of knowledge (the natural light of reason) Reply: this is because we assent to what is not clearly and distinctly perceived by us. The (infinite) will assents to what the (finite) intellect does not clearly and distinctly perceive. If we clearly and distinctly perceive something, then we have knowledge. It is clear and distinct perception that guarantees knowledge. This is the criterion of knowledge or truth. When something is clearly and distinctly perceived and we assent, we have knowledge and so avoid errpr. God guarantees the reliability of clear and distinct perception; but to arrive at knowledge of. God we need clear and distinct perception to be reliable. For we can be uncertain about something only if we are certain about something else. Short way with the skeptic: skeptic relies on an argument of which we need to be certain if we are to believe it.
