Aisthēsis (Sensation)

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  • Sensation, the first criterion of truth. Epicurus held that "all sensations are true": the senses faithfully report what actually reaches them, and no reasoning can refute them, because reasoning itself depends on the senses. Error comes from the opinions we add to what the senses report. See All Sensations Are True.

    Greek αἴσθησις (aisthēsis)

    Sensation, the first criterion of truth. Epicurus held that "all sensations are true": the senses faithfully report what actually reaches them, and no reasoning can refute them, because reasoning itself depends on the senses. Error comes from the opinions we add to what the senses report. See All Sensations Are True.

    1. Key Texts

    Quote from Diogenes Laertius 10.32

    Also, all notions arise from the senses by means of confrontation, analogy, similarity and combination, with some contribution from reasoning too. (tr. Long & Sedley)

    2. See Also

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