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Single Idea 6555
[filed under theme 18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / b. Human rationality
]
Full Idea
We as human beings are also irrational animals, unique among animals in our capacity to place faith in bizarre fictions of our own construction.
Gist of Idea
We are also irrational, with a unique ability to believe in bizarre self-created fictions
Source
Robert Fogelin (Walking the Tightrope of Reason [2003], Intro)
Book Ref
Fogelin,Robert: 'Walking the Tightrope of Reason' [OUP 2004], p.1
A Reaction
This is glaringly true, and a very nice corrective to the talk of Greeks and others about man as the 'rational animal'. From a distance we might be described by Martians as the 'mad animal'. Is the irrational current too strong to swim against?
The
22 ideas
from Robert Fogelin
6557
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Humans may never be able to attain a world view which is both rich and consistent
[Fogelin]
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6555
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We are also irrational, with a unique ability to believe in bizarre self-created fictions
[Fogelin]
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6560
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The law of noncontradiction is traditionally the most basic principle of rationality
[Fogelin]
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6565
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The law of noncontradiction makes the distinction between asserting something and denying it
[Fogelin]
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6574
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Legal reasoning is analogical, not deductive
[Fogelin]
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6575
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Philosophy may never find foundations, and may undermine our lives in the process
[Fogelin]
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6568
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A game can be played, despite having inconsistent rules
[Fogelin]
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6572
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Deterrence, prevention, rehabilitation and retribution can come into conflict in punishments
[Fogelin]
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6573
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Retributivists say a crime can be 'paid for'; deterrentists still worry about potential victims
[Fogelin]
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6586
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Cynics are committed to morality, but disappointed or disgusted by human failings
[Fogelin]
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6583
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Radical perspectivism replaces Kant's necessary scheme with many different schemes
[Fogelin]
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6582
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Conventions can only work if they are based on something non-conventional
[Fogelin]
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6576
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My view is 'circumspect rationalism' - that only our intellect can comprehend the world
[Fogelin]
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6589
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Knowledge is legitimate only if all relevant defeaters have been eliminated
[Fogelin]
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6596
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For coherentists, circularity is acceptable if the circle is large, rich and coherent
[Fogelin]
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6597
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A rule of justification might be: don't raise the level of scrutiny without a good reason
[Fogelin]
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6588
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Scepticism is cartesian (sceptical scenarios), or Humean (future), or Pyrrhonian (suspend belief)
[Fogelin]
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6590
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Scepticism deals in remote possibilities that are ineliminable and set the standard very high
[Fogelin]
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6585
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Rationality is threatened by fear of inconsistency, illusions of absolutes or relativism, and doubt
[Fogelin]
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6604
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Saying 'It's all a matter to taste' ignores the properties of the object discussed
[Fogelin]
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6605
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Critics must be causally entangled with their subject matter
[Fogelin]
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6607
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The word 'beautiful', when deprived of context, is nearly contentless
[Fogelin]
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