(4) But the idea A is supposed to be referred to God,
in so far as he is displayed through the human mind; therefore, the
idea of the idea A must be referred to God in the same manner; that is
(by [xi] Coroll.), the adequate idea of the idea A will be in the mind,
which has the adequate idea A; therefore he, who has an adequate idea
or knows a thing truly ([xxxiv] ), must at the same time have an
adequate idea or true knowledge of his knowledge; that is, obviously,
he must be assured. Q.E.D.
Note.- (43:5) I explained in the note to [xxi] what is meant by the
idea of an idea; but we may remark that the foregoing [xl] is in itself
sufficiently plain. (5a) No one, who has a true idea, is ignorant
that a true idea involves the highest certainty. (6) For to have a
true idea is only another expression for knowing a thing perfectly, or
as well as possible. (7) No one, indeed, can doubt of this, unless
he thinks that an idea is something lifeless, like a picture on a
panel, and not a mode of thinking - namely, the very act of understanding.
(43:8) And who, I ask, can know that he understands anything, unless he
do first understand it? (9) In other words, who can know that he is sure
of a thing, unless he be first sure of that thing? (10) Further, what
can there be more clear, and more certain, than a true idea as a standard
of truth? (11) Even as light displays both itself and darkness, so is
truth a standard both of itself and of falsity.
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