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CCVI explained

This chapter argues that we possess more than moral certainty of certain truths, achieving absolute certainty when we judge that a thing cannot be otherwise.

What happens

This chapter argues that we possess more than moral certainty of certain truths, achieving absolute certainty when we judge that a thing cannot be otherwise. This certainty is grounded in God's supreme goodness and veracity, ensuring our faculty of distinguishing truth from error is not fallacious when used correctly. Mathematical demonstrations, the existence of material things, and clear reasonings about them are cited as examples. The author suggests that the results of this treatise may be admitted as absolutely certain, being deduced in a continuous series from first principles, especially given the necessity of local motion in nerves for perceiving external objects.

Themes in this chapter

  • Skepticism and Certainty

    The chapter distinguishes moral certainty from absolute certainty, grounding the latter in God's veracity and the correct use of reason.

  • Existence of God

    God's existence and attributes (supreme goodness, source of truth) are used as the metaphysical foundation for certainty.

Characters to notice

  • Narrator

    The narrator presents the argument for absolute certainty and defends the conclusions of the treatise.

  • God

    God is invoked as the supremely good source of all truth, guaranteeing the reliability of our cognitive faculties.

Key passages

  • “Absolute certainty arises when we judge that it is impossible a thing can be otherwise than as we think it.”

    We are absolutely certain when we believe that a thing cannot possibly be different from how we conceive it.

    Defines the criterion for absolute certainty.

  • “This certainty is founded on the metaphysical ground, that, as God is supremely good and the source of all truth, the faculty of distinguishing truth from error which he gave us, cannot be fallacious so long as we use it aright, and distinctly perceive anything by it.”

    This certainty rests on the metaphysical principle that God, being perfectly good and the origin of all truth, ensures that our ability to tell truth from error is not deceptive when we use it properly and have clear perceptions.

    Explains the metaphysical basis of certainty through God's veracity.

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