,*APT] #b 
,! ,EXI/5CE ( ,MATT] 

#aiabaiab 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,B]TR& ,RUSSELL 

,TEXT 3 

,*,A,P,T,] ,I,I 

,! ,E,X,I,/,5,C,E ,( ,M,A,T,T,] 

  

,9 ?IS *APT] WE HAVE TO ASK \RSELVES :E!R1 9 ANY 
S5SE AT ALL1 !RE IS SU* A ?+ AS MATT]4 ,IS !RE A TABLE :I* 
HAS A C]TA9 9TR9SIC NATURE1 & CONT9UES TO EXI/ :5 ,I AM NOT 
LOOK+1 OR IS ! TABLE M]ELY A PRODUCT ( MY IMAG9ATION1 A 
DREAM-TABLE 9 A V]Y PROLONG$ DREAM8 ,?IS QUE/ION IS ( ! 
GREATE/ IMPORTANCE4 ,= IF WE CANNOT BE SURE ( ! 9DEP5D5T 
EXI/5CE ( OBJECTS1 WE CANNOT BE SURE ( ! 9DEP5D5T EXI/5CE 
( O!R PEOPLE'S BODIES1 & !RE=E /ILL LESS ( O!R PEOPLE'S 
M9DS1 S9CE WE HAVE NO GR\NDS = BELIEV+ 9 !IR M9DS EXCEPT 
SU* AS >E D]IV$ FROM OBS]V+ !IR BODIES4 ,?US IF WE CANNOT BE 
SURE ( ! 9DEP5D5T EXI/5CE ( OBJECTS1 WE %ALL BE LEFT ALONE 
9 A DES]T -- IT MAY BE ?AT ! :OLE \T] WORLD IS NO?+ BUT A 
DREAM1 & ?AT WE ALONE EXI/4 ,?IS IS AN UNCOM=TABLE POSSIBILITY2 
BUT AL?\< IT CANNOT BE /RICTLY PROV$ TO BE FALSE1 !RE 
IS NOT ! SLI<TE/ REASON TO SUPPOSE ?AT IT IS TRUE4 ,9 ?IS 
*APT] WE HAVE TO SEE :Y ?IS IS ! CASE4 

,BE=E WE EMB>K UPON D\BTFUL MATT]S1 LET US TRY TO F9D 
SOME MORE OR LESS FIX$ PO9T FROM :I* TO />T4 ,AL?\< WE >E 
D\BT+ ! PHYSICAL EXI/5CE ( ! TABLE1 WE >E NOT D\BT+ ! 
EXI/5CE ( ! S5SE-DATA :I* MADE US ?9K !RE WAS A TABLE2 WE 
>E NOT D\BT+ ?AT1 :ILE WE LOOK1 A C]TA9 COLOR & %APE 
APPE> TO US1 & :ILE WE PRESS1 A C]TA9 S5SATION ( H>DNESS IS 
EXP]I5C$ BY US4 ,ALL ?IS1 :I* IS PSY*OLOGICAL1 WE >E NOT 
CALL+ 9 QUE/ION4 ,9 FACT1 :ATEV] ELSE MAY BE D\BTFUL1 SOME AT 
LEA/ ( \R IMM$IATE EXP]I5CES SEEM ABSOLUTELY C]TA94 

,DESC>TES 7#a#e#i#f-#a#f#e71 ! F\ND] ( MOD]N PHILOSOPHY1  
9V5T$ A ME?OD :I* MAY /ILL BE US$ ) PR(IT -- ! ME?OD 
( SY/EMATIC D\BT4 ,HE DET]M9$ ?AT HE W\LD BELIEVE NO?+ 
:I* HE DID NOT SEE QUITE CLE>LY & DI/9CTLY TO BE TRUE4 
,:ATEV] HE C\LD BR+ HIMSELF TO D\BT1 HE W\LD D\BT1 UNTIL HE 
SAW REASON = NOT D\BT+ IT4 ,BY APPLY+ ?IS ME?OD HE GRADUALLY 
BECAME CONV9C$ ?AT ! ONLY EXI/5CE ( :I* HE C\LD BE 
QUITE C]TA9 WAS [N4 ,HE IMAG9$ A DECEITFUL DEMON1 :O 
PRES5T$ UNREAL ?+S TO HIS S5SES 9 A P]PETUAL PHANTASMAGORIA2 
IT MI<T BE V]Y IMPROBABLE ?AT SU* A DEMON EXI/$1 BUT /ILL IT 
WAS POSSIBLE1 & !RE=E D\BT CONC]N+ ?+S P]CEIV$ BY ! 
S5SES WAS POSSIBLE4 

,BUT D\BT CONC]N+ HIS [N EXI/5CE WAS NOT POSSIBLE1 = 
IF HE DID NOT EXI/1 NO DEMON C\LD DECEIVE HIM4 ,IF HE D\BT$1 HE 
MU/ EXI/2 IF HE HAD ANY EXP]I5CES :ATEV]1 HE MU/ EXI/4 ,?US 
HIS [N EXI/5CE WAS AN ABSOLUTE C]TA9TY TO HIM4 ',I ?9K1  
!RE=E ,I AM1 ' HE SAID 7,COGITO1 ]GO SUM72 & ON ! BASIS 
( ?IS C]TA9TY HE SET TO WORK TO BUILD UP AGA9 ! WORLD ( 
KN[L$GE :I* HIS D\BT HAD LAID 9 RU9S4 ,BY 9V5T+ ! ME?OD 
( D\BT1 & BY %[+ ?AT SUBJECTIVE ?+S >E ! MO/ C]TA91  
,DESC>TES P]=M$ A GREAT S]VICE TO PHILOSOPHY1 & ONE :I* 
MAKES HIM /ILL USEFUL TO ALL /UD5TS ( ! SUBJECT4 

,BUT SOME C>E IS NE$$ 9 US+ ,DESC>TES' >GUM5T4 
',I ?9K1 !RE=E ,I AM' SAYS RA!R MORE ?AN IS 
/RICTLY C]TA94 ,IT MI<T SEEM AS ?\< WE W]E QUITE SURE ( BE+ 
! SAME P]SON TO-DAY AS WE W]E YE/]DAY1 & ?IS IS NO D\BT 
TRUE 9 SOME S5SE4 ,BUT ! REAL ,SELF IS AS H>D TO >RIVE AT AS ! 
REAL TABLE & DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE ?AT ABSOLUTE1 CONV9C+ 
C]TA9TY ?AT BELONGS TO P>TICUL> EXP]I5CES4 ,:5 ,I LOOK AT MY 
TABLE & SEE A C]TA9 BR[N COLOR1 :AT IS QUITE C]TA9 AT ONCE 
IS NOT ',I AM SEE+ A BR[N COLOR'1 BUT RA!R1 'A BR[N 
COLOR IS BE+ SE5'4 ,?IS ( C\RSE 9VOLVES SOME?+ 7OR 
SOMEBODY7 :I* 7OR :O7 SEES ! BR[N COLOR2 BUT IT DOES NOT ( 
ITSELF 9VOLVE ?AT MORE OR LESS P]MAN5T P]SON :OM WE CALL ',I'4 
,SO F> AS IMM$IATE C]TA9TY GOES1 IT MI<T BE ?AT ! SOME?+ 
:I* SEES ! BR[N COLOR IS QUITE MOM5T>Y1 & NOT ! SAME AS 
! SOME?+ :I* HAS SOME DIFF]5T EXP]I5CE ! NEXT MOM5T4 

,?US IT IS \R P>TICUL> ?\<TS & FEEL+S ?AT HAVE 
PRIMITIVE C]TA9TY4 ,& ?IS APPLIES TO DREAMS & HALLUC9ATIONS AS 
WELL AS TO NORMAL P]CEPTIONS3 :5 WE DREAM OR SEE A <O/1 WE 
C]TA9LY DO HAVE ! S5SATIONS WE ?9K WE HAVE1 BUT = V>I\S 
REASONS IT IS HELD ?AT NO PHYSICAL OBJECT CORRESPONDS TO !SE 
S5SATIONS4 ,?US ! C]TA9TY ( \R KN[L$GE ( \R [N 
EXP]I5CES DOES NOT HAVE TO BE LIMIT$ 9 ANY WAY TO ALL[ = 
EXCEPTIONAL CASES4 ,H]E1 !RE=E1 WE HAVE1 = :AT IT IS WOR?1 A 
SOLID BASIS FROM :I* TO BEG9 \R PURSUIT ( KN[L$GE4 

,! PROBLEM WE HAVE TO CONSID] IS ?IS3 ,GRANT$ ?AT WE >E 
C]TA9 ( \R [N S5SE-DATA1 HAVE WE ANY REASON = REG>D+ !M 
AS SIGNS ( ! EXI/5CE ( SOME?+ ELSE1 :I* WE CAN CALL ! 
PHYSICAL OBJECT8 ,:5 WE HAVE 5UM]AT$ ALL ! S5SE-DATA :I* WE 
%\LD NATURALLY REG>D AS CONNECT$ ) ! TABLE HAVE WE SAID ALL 
!RE IS TO SAY AB\T ! TABLE1 OR IS !RE /ILL SOME?+ ELSE -- 
SOME?+ NOT A S5SE-DATUM1 SOME?+ :I* P]SI/S :5 WE GO \T 
( ! ROOM8 ,COMMON S5SE UNHESITAT+LY ANSW]S ?AT !RE IS4 ,:AT 
CAN BE B\<T & SOLD & PU%$ AB\T & HAVE A CLO? LAID ON IT1  
& SO ON1 CANNOT BE A M]E COLLECTION ( S5SE-DATA4 ,IF ! 
CLO? COMPLETELY HIDES ! TABLE1 WE %ALL D]IVE NO S5SE-DATA FROM 
! TABLE1 & !RE=E1 IF ! TABLE W]E M]ELY S5SE-DATA1 IT 
W\LD HAVE CEAS$ TO EXI/1 & ! CLO? W\LD BE SUSP5D$ 9 EMPTY 
AIR1 RE/+1 BY A MIRACLE1 9 ! PLACE :]E ! TABLE =M]LY 
WAS4 ,?IS SEEMS PLA9LY ABSURD2 BUT :OEV] WI%ES TO BECOME A 
PHILOSOPH] MU/ LE>N NOT TO BE FRI<T5$ BY ABSURDITIES4 

,ONE GREAT REASON :Y IT IS FELT ?AT WE MU/ SECURE A PHYSICAL 
OBJECT 9 ADDITION TO ! S5SE-DATA1 IS ?AT WE WANT ! SAME OBJECT 
= DIFF]5T PEOPLE4 ,:5 T5 PEOPLE >E SITT+ R\ND A 
D9N]-TABLE1 IT SEEMS PREPO/]\S TO MA9TA9 ?AT !Y >E NOT 
SEE+ ! SAME TABLECLO?1 ! SAME KNIVES & =KS & SPOONS & 
GLASSES4 ,BUT ! S5SE-DATA >E PRIVATE TO EA* SEP>ATE P]SON2 :AT 
IS IMM$IATELY PRES5T TO ! SI<T ( ONE IS NOT IMM$IATELY PRES5T 
TO ! SI<T ( ANO!R3 !Y ALL SEE ?+S FROM SLI<TLY DIFF]5T 
PO9TS ( VIEW1 & !RE=E SEE !M SLI<TLY DIFF]5TLY4 ,?US1 IF 
!RE >E TO BE PUBLIC NEUTRAL OBJECTS1 :I* CAN BE M SOME S5SE 
KN[N TO MANY DIFF]5T PEOPLE1 !RE MU/ BE SOME?+ OV] & 
ABOVE ! PRIVATE & P>TICUL> S5SE-DATA :I* APPE> TO V>I\S 
PEOPLE4 ,:AT REASON1 !N1 HAVE WE = BELIEV+ ?AT !RE >E SU* 
PUBLIC NEUTRAL OBJECTS8 

,! FIR/ ANSW] ?AT NATURALLY OCCURS TO ONE IS ?AT1  
AL?\< DIFF]5T PEOPLE MAY SEE ! TABLE SLI<TLY DIFF]5TLY1  
/ILL !Y ALL SEE MORE OR LESS SIMIL> ?+S :5 !Y LOOK AT ! 
TABLE1 & ! V>IATIONS 9 :AT !Y SEE FOLL[ ! LAWS ( 
P]SPECTIVE & REFLECTION ( LI<T1 SO ?AT IT IS EASY TO >RIVE AT 
A P]MAN5T OBJECT UND]LY+ ALL ! DIFF]5T PEOPLE'S S5SE-DATA4 
,I B\<T MY TABLE FROM ! =M] OCCUPANT ( MY ROOM2 ,I C\LD NOT 
BUY HIS S5SE-DATA1 :I* DI$ :5 HE W5T AWAY1 BUT ,I 
C\LD & DID BUY ! CONFID5T EXPECTATION ( MORE OR LESS SIMIL> 
S5SE-DATA4 ,?US IT IS ! FACT ?AT DIFF]5T PEOPLE HAVE SIMIL> 
S5SE-DATA1 & ?AT ONE P]SON 9 A GIV5 PLACE AT DIFF]5T TIMES 
HAS SIMIL> S5SE-DATA1 :I* MAKES US SUPPOSE ?AT OV] & ABOVE 
! S5SE-DATA !RE IS A P]MAN5T PUBLIC OBJECT :I* UND]LIES OR 
CAUSES ! S5SE-DATA ( V>I\S PEOPLE AT V>I\S TIMES4 

,N[ 9 SO F> AS ! ABOVE CONSID]ATIONS DEP5D UPON 
SUPPOS+ ?AT !RE >E O!R PEOPLE BESIDES \RSELVES1 !Y BEG ! 
V]Y QUE/ION AT ISSUE4 ,O!R PEOPLE >E REPRES5T$ TO ME BY C]TA9 
S5SE-DATA1 SU* AS ! SI<T ( !M OR ! S\ND ( !IR VOICES1  
& IF ,I HAD NO REASON TO BELIEVE ?AT !RE W]E PHYSICAL OBJECTS 
9DEP5D5T ( MY S5SE-DATA1 ,I %\LD HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE ?AT 
O!R PEOPLE EXI/ EXCEPT AS P>T ( MY DREAM4 ,?US1 :5 WE >E 
TRY+ TO %[ ?AT !RE MU/ BE OBJECTS 9DEP5D5T ( \R [N 
S5SE-DATA1 WE CANNOT APPEAL TO ! TE/IMONY ( O!R PEOPLE1 S9CE 
?IS TE/IMONY ITSELF CONSI/S ( S5SE-DATA1 & DOES NOT REVEAL 
O!R PEOPLE'S EXP]I5CES UNLESS \R [N S5SE-DATA >E SIGNS ( 
?+S EXI/+ 9DEP5D5TLY ( US4 ,WE MU/ !RE=E1 IF POSSIBLE1  
F9D1 9 \R [N PURELY PRIVATE EXP]I5CES1 *>ACT]I/ICS :I* 
%[1 OR T5D TO %[1 ?AT !RE >E 9 ! WORLD ?+S O!R ?AN 
\RSELVES & \R PRIVATE EXP]I5CES4 

,9 ONE S5SE IT MU/ BE ADMITT$ ?AT WE CAN NEV] 
PROVE ! EXI/5CE ( ?+S O!R ?AN \RSELVES & \R 
EXP]I5CES4 ,NO LOGICAL ABSURDITY RESULTS FROM ! HYPO?SIS ?AT ! 
WORLD CONSI/S ( MYSELF & MY ?\<TS & FEEL+S & S5SATIONS1  
& ?AT EV]Y?+ ELSE IS M]E FANCY4 ,9 DREAMS A V]Y COMPLICAT$ 
WORLD MAY SEEM TO BE PRES5T1 & YET ON WAK+ WE F9D IT WAS A 
DELUSION2 ?AT IS TO SAY1 WE F9D ?AT ! S5SE-DATA 9 ! DREAM DO 
NOT APPE> TO HAVE CORRESPOND$ ) SU* PHYSICAL OBJECTS AS WE 
%\LD NATURALLY 9F] FROM \R S5SE-DATA4 7,IT IS TRUE ?AT1 :5 
! PHYSICAL WORLD IS ASSUM$1 IT IS POSSIBLE TO F9D PHYSICAL CAUSES 
= ! S5SE-DATA 9 DREAMS3 A DOOR BANG+1 = 9/ANCE1 MAY CAUSE 
US TO DREAM ( A NAVAL 5GAGEM5T4 ,BUT AL?\<1 9 ?IS CASE1 !RE 
IS A PHYSICAL CAUSE = ! S5SE-DATA1 !RE IS NOT A 
PHYSICAL OBJECT CORRESPOND+ TO ! S5SE-DATA 9 ! WAY 
9 :I* AN ACTUAL NAVAL BATTLE W\LD CORRESPOND47 ,!RE IS NO 
LOGICAL IMPOSSIBILITY 9 ! SUPPOSITION ?AT ! :OLE ( LIFE IS A 
DREAM1 9 :I* WE \RSELVES CREATE ALL ! OBJECTS ?AT COME BE=E 
US4 ,BUT AL?\< ?IS IS NOT LOGICALLY IMPOSSIBLE1 !RE IS NO REASON 
:ATEV] TO SUPPOSE ?AT IT IS TRUE2 & IT IS1 9 FACT1 A LESS 
SIMPLE HYPO!SIS1 VIEW$ AS A MEANS ( ACC\NT+ = ! FACTS ( 
\R [N LIFE1 ?AN ! COMMON-S5SE HYPO!SIS ?AT !RE REALLY >E 
OBJECTS 9DEP5D5T ( US1 :OSE ACTION ON US CAUSES \R S5SATIONS4 

,! WAY 9 :I* SIMPLICITY COMES 9 FROM SUPPOS+ ?AT !RE 
REALLY >E PHYSICAL OBJECTS IS EASILY SE54 ,IF ! CAT APPE>S AT ONE 
MOM5T 9 ONE P>T ( ! ROOM1 & AT ANO!R 9 ANO!R P>T1 IT IS 
NATURAL TO SUPPOSE ?AT IT HAS MOV$ FROM ! ONE TO ! O!R1  
PASS+ OV] A S]IES ( 9T]M$IATE POSITIONS4 ,BUT IF IT IS M]ELY 
A SET ( S5SE-DATA1 IT CANNOT HAVE EV] BE5 9 ANY PLACE :]E ,I 
DID NOT SEE IT2 ?US WE %ALL HAVE TO SUPPOSE ?AT IT DID NOT EXI/ 
AT ALL :ILE ,I WAS NOT LOOK+1 BUT SUDD5LY SPRANG 9TO BE+ 9 A 
NEW PLACE4 ,IF ! CAT EXI/S :E!R ,I SEE IT OR NOT1 WE CAN 
UND]/& FROM \R [N EXP]I5CE H[ IT GETS HUNGRY BETWE5 ONE 
MEAL & ! NEXT2 BUT IF IT DOES NOT EXI/ :5 ,I AM NOT SEE+ IT1  
IT SEEMS ODD ?AT APPETITE %\LD GR[ DUR+ NONEXI/5CE AS FA/ 
AS DUR+ EXI/5CE4 ,& IF ! CAT CONSI/S ONLY ( S5SE-DATA1 IT 
CANNOT BE HUNGRY1 S9CE NO HUNG] BUT MY [N CAN BE A 
S5SE-DATUM TO ME4 ,?US ! BEHAVIOR ( ! S5SE-DATA :I* 
REPRES5T ! CAT TO ME1 ?\< IT SEEMS QUITE NATURAL :5 REG>D$ 
AS AN EXPRESSION ( HUNG]1 BECOMES UTT]LY 9EXPLICABLE :5 
REG>D$ AS M]E MOVEM5TS & *ANGES ( PAT*ES ( COLOR1 :I* 
>E AS 9CAPABLE ( HUNG] AS TRIANGLE IS ( PLAY+ FOOTBALL4 

,BUT ! DIFFICULTY 9 ! CASE ( ! CAT IS NO?+ COMP>$ 
TO ! DIFFICULTY 9 ! CASE ( HUMAN BE+S4 ,:5 HUMAN BE+S 
SPEAK -- ?AT IS1 :5 WE HE> C]TA9 NOISES :I* WE ASSOCIATE ) 
IDEAS1 & SIMULTANE\SLY SEE C]TA9 MOTIONS ( LIPS & EXPRESSIONS 
( FACE -- IT IS V]Y DIFFICULT TO SUPPOSE ?AT :AT WE HE> IS NOT 
! EXPRESSION ( A ?\<T1 AS WE KN[ IT W\LD BE IF WE EMITT$ ! 
SAME S\NDS4 ,( C\RSE SIMIL> ?+S HAPP5 9 DREAMS1 :]E WE >E 
MI/AK5 AS TO ! EXI/5CE ( O!R PEOPLE4 ,BUT DREAMS >E MORE OR 
LESS SUGGE/$ BY :AT WE CALL WAK+ LIFE1 & >E CAPABLE ( BE+ 
MORE OR LESS ACC\NT$ = ON SCI5TIFIC PR9CIPLES IF WE ASSUME ?AT 
!RE REALLY IS A PHYSICAL WORLD4 ,?US EV]Y PR9CIPLE ( SIMPLICITY 
URGES US TO ADOPT ! NATURAL VIEW1 ?AT !RE REALLY >E OBJECTS 
O!R ?AN \RSELVES & \R S5SE-DATA :I* HAVE AN EXI/5CE NOT 
DEP5D5T UPON \R P]CEIV+ !M4 

,( C\RSE IT IS NOT BY >GUM5T ?AT WE ORIG9ALLY COME BY \R 
BELIEF 9 AN 9DEP5D5T EXT]NAL WORLD4 ,WE F9D ?IS BELIEF READY 9 
\RSELVES AS SOON AS WE BEG9 TO REFLECT3 IT IS :AT MAY BE CALL$ AN 
9/9CTIVE BELIEF4 ,WE %\LD NEV] HAVE BE5 L$ TO 
QUE/ION ?IS BELIEF BUT = ! FACT ?AT1 AT ANY RATE 9 ! CASE 
( SI<T1 IT SEEMS AS IF ! S5SE-DATUM ITSELF W]E 9/9CTIVELY 
BELIEV$ TO BE ! 9DEP5D5T OBJECT1 :]EAS >GUM5T %[S ?AT 
! OBJECT CANNOT BE ID5TICAL ) ! S5SE-DATUM4 ,?IS DISCOV]Y1  
H[EV] -- :I* IS NOT AT ALL P>ADOXICAL 9 ! CASE ( TA/E & 
SMELL & S\ND1 & ONLY SLI<TLY SO 9 ! CASE ( T\* -- LEAVES 
UNDIM9I%$ \R 9/9CTIVE BELIEF ?AT !RE >E OBJECTS 
CORRESPOND+ TO \R S5SE-DATA4 ,S9CE ?IS BELIEF DOES NOT 
LEAD TO ANY DIFFICULTIES1 BUT ON ! CONTR>Y T5DS TO SIMPLIFY & 
SY/EMIZE \R ACC\NT ( \R EXP]I5CES1 !RE SEEMS NO GOOD 
REASON = REJECT+ IT4 ,WE MAY !RE=E ADMIT -- ?\< ) A 
SLI<T D\BT D]IV$ FROM DREAMS -- ?AT ! EXT]NAL WORLD DOES 
REALLY EXI/1 & IS NOT :OLLY DEP5D5T = ITS EXI/5CE UPON \R 
CONT9U+ TO P]CEIVE IT4 

,! >GUM5T :I* HAS L$ US TO ?IS CONCLUSION IS D\BTLESS 
LESS /RONG ?AN WE C\LD WI%1 BUT IT IS TYPICAL ( MANY 
PHILOSOPHICAL >GUM5TS1 & IT IS !RE=E WOR? :ILE TO CONSID] 
BRIEFLY ITS G5]AL *>ACT] & VALIDITY4 ,ALL KN[L$GE1 WE F9D1  
MU/ BE BUILT UP UPON \R 9/9CTIVE BELIEFS1 & IF !SE >E 
REJECT$1 NO?+ IS LEFT4 ,BUT AMONG \R 9/9CTIVE BELIEFS SOME >E 
MU* /RONG] ?AN O!RS1 :ILE MANY HAVE1 BY HABIT & ASSOCIATION1  
BECOME 5TANGL$ ) O!R BELIEFS1 NOT REALLY 9/9CTIVE1 BUT 
FALSELY SUPPOS$ TO BE P>T ( :AT IS BELIEV$ 9/9CTIVELY4 

,PHILOSOPHY %\LD %[ US ! HI]>*Y ( \R 9/9CTIVE 
BELIEFS1 BEG9N+ ) ?OSE WE HOLD MO/ /RONGLY1 & PRES5T+ 
EA* AS MU* ISOLAT$ & AS FREE FROM IRRELEVANT ADDITIONS AS 
POSSIBLE4 ,IT %\LD TAKE C>E TO %[ ?AT1 9 ! =M 9 :I* !Y 
>E F9ALLY SET =?1 \R 9/9CTIVE BELIEFS DO NOT CLA%1 BUT =M 
A H>MONI\S SY/EM4 ,!RE CAN NEV] BE ANY REASON = REJECT+ ONE 
9/9CTIVE BELIEF EXCEPT ?AT IT CLA%ES ) O!RS2 ?US1 IF !Y 
>E F\ND TO H>MONIZE1 ! :OLE SY/EM BECOMES WOR?Y ( 
ACCEPTANCE4 

,IT IS ( C\RSE POSSIBLE ?AT ALL OR ANY ( \R 
BELIEFS MAY BE MI/AK51 & !RE=E ALL \<T TO BE HELD ) AT 
LEA/ SOME SLI<T ELEM5T ( D\BT4 ,BUT WE CANNOT HAVE 
REASON TO REJECT A BELIEF EXCEPT ON ! GR\ND ( SOME O!R 
BELIEF4 ,H5CE1 BY ORGANIZ+ \R 9/9CTIVE BELIEFS & !IR 
CONSEQU5CES1 BY CONSID]+ :I* AMONG !M IS MO/ POSSIBLE1 IF 
NECESS>Y1 TO MODIFY OR AB&ON1 WE CAN >RIVE1 ON ! BASIS ( 
ACCEPT+ AS \R SOLE DATA :AT WE 9/9CTIVELY BELIEVE1 AT AN 
ORD]LY SY/EMATIC ORGANIZATION ( \R KN[L$GE1 9 :I*1 ?\< 
! POSSIBILITY ( ]ROR REMA9S1 ITS LIKELIHOOD IS 
DIM9I%$ BY ! 9T]RELATION ( ! P>TS & BY ! CRITICAL 
SCRUT9Y :I* HAS PREC$$ ACQUIESC5CE4 

,?IS FUNCTION1 AT LEA/1 PHILOSOPHY CAN P]=M4 ,MO/ 
PHILOSOPH]S1 RI<TLY OR WRONGLY1 BELIEVE ?AT PHILOSOPHY CAN DO MU* 
MORE ?AN ?IS -- ?AT IT CAN GIVE US KN[L$GE1 NOT O!RWISE 
ATTA9ABLE1 CONC]N+ ! UNIV]SE AS A :OLE1 & CONC]N+ ! 
NATURE ( ULTIMATE REALITY4 ,:E!R ?IS BE ! CASE OR NOT1 ! MORE 
MODE/ FUNCTION WE HAVE SPOK5 ( CAN C]TA9LY BE P]=M$ BY 
PHILOSOPHY1 & C]TA9LY SUFFICES1 = ?OSE :O HAVE ONCE BEGUN TO 
D\BT ! ADEQUACY ( COMMON S5SE1 TO JU/IFY ! >DU\S & 
DIFFICULT LABORS ?AT PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS 9VOLVE4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,NOVEMB] #c1 #aiaa 3 ,*APT] #b -- ,PUBLICATION4 
,JANU>Y #a#f1 #bb 3 ,*APT] #b -- ,ADD$4 

 FILE G5]AT$ FROM 3  
HTTP3_/_/REVOLTLIB4COM_/