Single Idea 4841

[catalogued under 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 6. Judgement / b. Error]

Full Idea

When men make mistakes in calculation, they have one set of figures in their mind, and another on the paper. If we could see into their minds, they do not make a mistake.

Gist of Idea

People make calculation mistakes by misjudging the figures, not calculating them wrongly

Source

Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], II Pr 47)

Book Reference

Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics, Improvement of Understanding, Letters', ed/tr. Elwes,R [Dover 1955], p.119


A Reaction

A wonderfully optimistic assertion of faith in reason! He seems to imply an infallibility in reason, which seems a bit implausible. If I make 7+6=14, MUST I have muddled the 6 with a 7? Presumably Spinoza was good at arithmetic.

Related Idea

Idea 4764 We cannot directly control our beliefs, but we can control the causes of our involuntary beliefs [Engel]