De Veritate

work by Herbert of Cherbury

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

De Veritate ("On Truth") is a philosophical work by Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert of Cherbury, published in 1624. The book aims to establish instructed reason as the most reliable guide for seeking truth. Herbert posits that there are five innate, God-given religious ideas present in the human mind: belief in a Supreme Being, the necessity of worship, the importance of a pious and virtuous life, repentance, and the existence of rewards and punishments in the afterlife. He largely dismisses the validity of revelation, suggesting that these innate ideas are sufficient for understanding religious truths. Herbert's philosophy is considered a precursor to Deism.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

7 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Edward Herbert, 1st Baron Herbert
De Veritate (“On Truth”) was published in Paris in 1624. Thereafter he devoted himself to philosophy, history, and literature. When the Civil War broke out he lacked enthusiasm for either cause; however, he opened Montgomery Castle to the Parliamentary forces in 1644 and met with…
Read More
De Veritate (“On Truth”) was published in Paris in 1624. Thereafter he devoted himself to philosophy, history, and literature. When the Civil War broke out he lacked enthusiasm for either cause; however, he opened Montgomery Castle to the Parliamentary forces in 1644 and met with…
Read More