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Single Idea 22657
[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
]
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.
Gist of Idea
All good philosophers start from a dumb conviction about which truths can be revealed
Source
William James (The Sentiment of Rationality [1882], p.40)
Book Ref
James,William: 'Selected Writings of William James', ed/tr. Bird,Graham [Everyman 1995], 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.
The
18 ideas
from 'The Sentiment of Rationality'
22643
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It seems that we feel rational when we detect no irrationality
[James]
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22645
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Understanding by means of causes is useless if they are not reduced to a minimum number
[James]
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22644
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Our greatest pleasure is the economy of reducing chaotic facts to one single fact
[James]
|
22646
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We have a passion for knowing the parts of something, rather than the whole
[James]
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22647
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A complete system is just a classification of the whole world's ingredients
[James]
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22648
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A single explanation must have a single point of view
[James]
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22649
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Classification can only ever be for a particular purpose
[James]
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22650
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How can the ground of rationality be itself rational?
[James]
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22651
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Dogs' curiosity only concerns what will happen next
[James]
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22652
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The mind has evolved entirely for practical interests, seen in our reflex actions
[James]
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22653
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Early Christianity says God recognises the neglected weak and tender impulses
[James]
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22654
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We can't know if the laws of nature are stable, but we must postulate it or assume it
[James]
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22656
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Trying to assess probabilities by mere calculation is absurd and impossible
[James]
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22655
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Scientific genius extracts more than other people from the same evidence
[James]
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22657
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All good philosophers start from a dumb conviction about which truths can be revealed
[James]
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22658
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Experimenters assume the theory is true, and stick to it as long as result don't disappoint
[James]
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22659
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It is wisdom to believe what you desire, because belief is needed to achieve it
[James]
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22660
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Evolution suggests prevailing or survival as a new criterion of right and wrong
[James]
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