more from Michel de Montaigne

Single Idea 6262

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 3. Reality]

Full Idea

We may all lack some sense or other; because of that defect, most of the features of objects may be concealed from us.

Gist of Idea

We lack some sense or other, and hence objects may have hidden features

Source

Michel de Montaigne (Apology for Raymond Sebond [1580], p.0666)

Book Reference

Montaigne,Michel de: 'The Complete Essays', ed/tr. Screech,M.A. [Penguin 1987], p.666


A Reaction

This strikes me as simple, straightforward common sense, and right. I cannot make sense of the claim that reality really is just the way it appears. We do not have a built-in neutrino detector, for example.