Be that as it may, there is fixed in my mind a certain…
“Be that as it may, there is fixed in my mind a certain opinion of long standing, namely that there exists a God who is able to do anything and by whom I, such as I am, have been created. How do I know that he did not bring it about that there is no earth at all, no heavens, no extended thing, no shape, no size, no place, and yet bringing it about that all these things appear to me to exist precisely as they do now?”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author questions the certainty of existence, suggesting that all perceived reality could be an illusion created by a deity.
In simple terms: We cannot be sure our world is real; it might be a divine illusion.
Key Takeaway
Question assumptions about reality.
Themes
epistemology
philosophy of religion
skepticism
Mood
inquisitive
skeptical
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- daily decision making
- scientific inquiry
- spiritual contemplation
- ethical reasoning
Key Concepts
Cartesian doubt
theory of perception
theodicy
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we know if our senses are reliable?
- What would change if we accepted reality as illusion?
A Different Perspective
The argument assumes a deity exists to create illusion.