Single Idea 15209

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

Full Idea

Just as the tiniest error in navigation may lead to a landfall even on the wrong continent, so the acceptance of apparently innocuous principles can lead to doctrines which, if accepted, would render intellectual life impossible.

Gist of Idea

Like disastrous small errors in navigation, small misunderstandings can wreck intellectual life

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 1.I.A)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.1


A Reaction

If one lived life by an axiom system, and one of the axioms was a bit off kilter, then this idea would be a powerful one. Note that it is only 'intellectual' life that is screwed up, but even there a plurality of ideas keep correcting one another.