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Single Idea 1577
[filed under theme 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 6. Relativism Critique
]
Full Idea
Relativism is disease, is pollution, for it negates the efficacy of logos. It destroys the possibility of a complete rational debate of fundamental questions.
Gist of Idea
Relativism is a disease which destroys the possibility of rational debate
Source
David Roochnik (The Tragedy of Reason [1990], p.41)
Book Ref
Roochnik,David: 'The Tragedy of Reason: the Platonic logos' [Routledge 1990], p.41
The
16 ideas
from 'The Tragedy of Reason'
1571
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'Logos' ranges from thought/reasoning, to words, to rational structures outside thought
[Roochnik]
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1572
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In the seventeenth century the only acceptable form of logos was technical knowledge
[Roochnik]
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1573
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The hallmark of a person with logos is that they give reasons why one opinion is superior to another
[Roochnik]
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1591
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Unfortunately for reason, argument can't be used to establish the value of argument
[Roochnik]
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1592
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Logos cannot refute the relativist, and so must admit that it too is a matter of desire (for truth and agreement)
[Roochnik]
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1593
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Human desire has an ordered structure, with logos at the pinnacle
[Roochnik]
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1595
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Philosophy aims to satisfy the chief human desire - the articulation of beauty itself
[Roochnik]
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1596
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Reasoning aims not at the understanding of objects, but at the desire to give beautiful speeches
[Roochnik]
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1598
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We prefer reason or poetry according to whether basics are intelligible or not
[Roochnik]
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1599
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Attempts to suspend all presuppositions are hopeless, because a common ground must be agreed for the process
[Roochnik]
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1603
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Logos is not unconditionally good, but good if there is another person willing to engage with it
[Roochnik]
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1605
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Reality can be viewed neutrally, or as an object of desire
[Roochnik]
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1606
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You have to be a Platonist to debate about reality, so every philosopher is a Platonist
[Roochnik]
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1577
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Relativism is a disease which destroys the possibility of rational debate
[Roochnik]
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1578
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If relativism is the correct account of human values, then rhetoric is more important than reasoning
[Roochnik]
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1584
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Modern science, by aiming for clarity about the external world, has abandoned rationality in the human world
[Roochnik]
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