Combining Philosophers

Ideas for William James, Isaiah and Richard Sorabji

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
All good philosophers start from a dumb conviction about which truths can be revealed [James]
     Full Idea: Every philosopher whose initiative counts for anything in the evolution of thought has taken his stand on a sort of dumb conviction that the truth must lie in one direction rather than another, and a preliminary assurance that this can be made to work.
     From: William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.40)
     A reaction: I would refer to this as 'intuition', which I think of as reasons (probably good reasons) which cannot yet be articulated. Hence I like this idea very much, except for the word 'dumb'. It is more like a rational vision, yet to be filled in.
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy
Let us reason together, saith the Lord [Isaiah]
     Full Idea: Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord.
     From: Isaiah (23: Book of Isaiah [c.680 BCE], 01.18)
     A reaction: A verse which not only offers Biblical support for philosophy, but would also seem to be a challenge to Christian fideists.