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Epicurus on the Origin and Formation of Preconceptions

In the paper I deal wih one of the key notions in Epicurean epistemology, namely preconceptions. Together with perceptions, preconceptions are the second criterion of truth. My aim in the paper is to explore their epistemological status on the basis of their origin and formation. I argue that the process of formation of preconception is purely empirical since they are produced through repeated perceptions of individual instances of a particular type of thing. Given the way they are formed, I claim that preconceptions are the means by which we recognize types of object and as such are fundamental to Epicurus’ account of how we gain knowledge of things. Exactly this secures them a distinctive criterial role since preconceptions, unlike perceptions, enable us to engage in the process of interpretation of perceptual content.

criterion of truth; perception; perceptual content; mind; universal memory; empiricism; empirical reasoning; conceptualization; inference

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