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Single Idea 23343

[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 9. Limits of Reason ]

Full Idea

Since it is reason that analyses and completes all other things, reason itself should not be left unanalysed. But by what shall it be analysed? ..That is why philosophers put logic first, just as when measuring grain we first examine the measure.

Gist of Idea

Because reason performs all analysis, we should analyse reason - but how?

Source

Epictetus (The Discourses [c.56], 1.17.01)

Book Ref

Epictetus: 'The Discourses, The Handbook, Fragments', ed/tr. Gill,C [Everyman 1995], p.41

A Reaction

The problem of the definitive metre rule in Paris. I say we have to test reason against the physical world, and the measure of reason is truth. Something has to be primitive, but reason is too vague for that role. Idea 23344 agrees with me!

Related Idea

Idea 23344 Reason itself must be compounded from some of our impressions [Epictetus]

The 28 ideas with the same theme [extent to which our reason can reveal truth]:

21264 Mortals are incapable of being fully rational [Plato]
19740 A very hungry man cannot choose between equidistant piles of food [Aristotle]
1800 Sceptics say reason is only an instrument, because reason can only be attacked with reason [Pyrrho, by Diog. Laertius]
1813 All reasoning endlessly leads to further reasoning (Mode 12) [Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
1811 Proofs often presuppose the thing to be proved (Mode 15) [Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
1812 All discussion is full of uncertainty and contradiction (Mode 11) [Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
1815 Reasoning needs arbitrary faith in preliminary hypotheses (Mode 14) [Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
23343 Because reason performs all analysis, we should analyse reason - but how? [Epictetus]
22752 Reasoning is impossible without a preconception [Sext.Empiricus]
1403 A rational donkey would starve to death between two totally identical piles of hay [Buridan, by PG]
6675 The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing [Pascal]
19433 The universe is infinitely varied, so the Buridan's Ass dilemma could never happen [Leibniz]
22520 You can't reason someone out of an irrational opinion [Swift]
19767 Reason leads to prudent selfishness, which overrules natural compassion [Rousseau]
8099 The truths of reason instruct, but they do not illuminate [Joubert]
8932 Truth does not come from giving reasons for and against propositions [Hegel]
6558 A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds [Emerson]
4523 What can be 'demonstrated' is of little worth [Nietzsche]
8594 People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared [Shoemaker]
3092 If you believe that some of your beliefs are false, then at least one of your beliefs IS false [Harman]
7986 Drunken boat pilots are less likely to collide than clearly focused ones [Baudrillard]
8062 Proof is a barren idea in philosophy, and the best philosophy never involves proof [MacIntyre]
3801 Rationality requires the assumption that things are either for better or worse [Dennett]
1591 Unfortunately for reason, argument can't be used to establish the value of argument [Roochnik]
1599 Attempts to suspend all presuppositions are hopeless, because a common ground must be agreed for the process [Roochnik]
18781 Inconsistency doesn't prevent us reasoning about some system [Mares]
6557 Humans may never be able to attain a world view which is both rich and consistent [Fogelin]
6568 A game can be played, despite having inconsistent rules [Fogelin]