Famous quote by Moses Mendelssohn

"A God is thinkable, therefore a God is also actually present"

About this Quote

Moses Mendelssohn, an 18th-century thinker, was a main figure of the Jewish Enlightenment. The statement, "A God is imaginable, therefore a God is likewise actually present", touches on a timeless argument in theology and viewpoint: the relationship between thought and presence, especially concerning the divine.

This quote appears to reflect an ontological argument, a philosophical reasoning that attempts to show God's existence through abstract thinking alone, without counting on empirical proof. Mendelssohn suggests that the mere capability to conceive of God in our ideas indicates God's actual presence. In essence, if our minds can conceive something as grand and limitless as God, then this concept should correspond to a truth beyond mere creativity.

Mendelssohn's assertion might further suggest that human consciousness and rationality are not separated phenomena. They are intimately linked to deeper facts about deep space, possibly recommending that our ability to think of God is not coincidental but indicative of a magnificent existence intrinsic to truth itself. In this sense, Mendelssohn might be suggesting that human rationality and spirituality are paths to understanding and acknowledging the divine.

Furthermore, this statement can be viewed as a reflection on the nature of human belief. For Mendelssohn, and perhaps numerous others, the reality that humans throughout cultures and dates have actually envisaged divine beings could illustrate an universal truth about presence. If godly ideas occur naturally within human cognition, it should be because there is some underpinning truth that these concepts echo, just like how physical phenomena motivate clinical theories.

However, it's essential to consider reviews of such arguments. Some philosophers argue that just because something is imaginable does not always imply it exists. They separate the capacity for us to think of entities from the requirement of their existence. Regardless of this, Mendelssohn's quote succinctly records a belief in the power of thought as a bridge to existential realities, preserving a crucial interplay between factor, spirituality, and the recommendation of something greater.

About the Author

Germany Flag This quote is from Moses Mendelssohn between September 6, 1729 and January 4, 1786. He/she was a famous Philosopher from Germany. The author also have 15 other quotes.
See more from Moses Mendelssohn

Similar Quotes

Moses Mendelssohn, Philosopher
Shortlist

No items yet. Click "Add" on a Quote.