Ideas and Objects

Can you have a clear idea of an objective fact you have never experienced?

Key Terms:
"Clear Idea"
"Object"

Okay, here's my first attempt to work through this question - let me know if I'm missing something...

First, I think it's important not to confuse "objective/subjective facts" with "direct/indirect evidence." An objective fact does not have to be experienced to establish its factualness, while a subjective fact is a fact limited to the subject experiencing it. If I am not experiencing this fact, I can only establish its factualness indirectly, and establishing the reality of this fact depends on the trustworthiness of those who claim to be experiencing this fact (the example in the book of the person with the headache). Many facts, whether objective or subjective, come to me through "indirect evidence" - i.e. I don't experience them myself, but rather rely on indirect evidence of these facts.

"Clear ideas" are ideas that faithfully reflect the objective order from which they derive. Our ideas owe their existence to "objective facts" - things outside and independent of the mind. I know many objective facts through indirect evidence (i.e. I did not experience them myself, but "trust" those who claim to have experienced them). Therefore, I believe it is possible to have a "clear idea" of an "objective fact" that I have never experienced.

Big_Al Said:
An objective fact does not have to be experienced to establish its factualness,

When I first read this it kind of tricked me and I thought it was wrong. My first instinct was to do what you said and relate "objective fact" to "direct evidence." Thus when I was originally asking the question I thought it would not be possible. But it makes sense that we can have a clear idea based on the direct evidence of another (subjective to us).

I'm glad I didn't try to answer it first