Single Idea 6851

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / e. Philosophy as reason]

Full Idea

We encourage students to be concerned with whether an argument is valid or not, and we don't encourage them much to consider the question of whether the argument is interesting or not.

Gist of Idea

We overvalue whether arguments are valid, and undervalue whether they are interesting

Source

Ray Monk (Interview with Baggini and Stangroom [2001], p.16)

Book Reference

Baggini,J/Stangroom,J: 'New British Philosophy' [Routledge 2002], p.16


A Reaction

What do you make of arguments which are very interesting, but (unfortunately) totally invalid? That said, this is a nice comment. A philosopher cannot contemplate too long or too deeply on the question of what is really 'interesting'.