than if he knew. This however will happen, unless some one should previously know of those who give credence through demonstration, since it is more necessary to believe either in all or in certain first principles, than in the conclusion. It is not only however requisite that he who is to possess knowledge through demonstration, should know in a greater degree first principles, and believe rather in them than in the thing demonstrated, but also that nothing else should be more credible or more known to him than the opposites of the principles, from which a syllogism of contra-deception may consist, since it behoves him who possesses knowledge singly to be unchangeable.
Chapter 3
To some, because it is necessary that first things should be known, science does not appear to exist, but to others to exist indeed, yet (they think) there are demonstrations of all things, neither of which opinions is true or necessary. For those who suppose
