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Single Idea 8062
[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 9. Limits of Reason
]
Full Idea
Arguments in philosophy rarely take the form of proofs; and the most successful arguments on topics central to philosophy never do. (The ideal of proof is a relatively barren one in philosophy).
Gist of Idea
Proof is a barren idea in philosophy, and the best philosophy never involves proof
Source
Alasdair MacIntyre (After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory [1981], Ch.18)
Book Ref
MacIntyre,Alasdair: 'After Virtue: a Study in Moral Theory' [Duckworth 1982], p.241
A Reaction
He seems proud of this, but he must settle for something which is less than proof, which has to be vindicated to the mathematicians and scientists. I agree, though. Plato is the model, and the best philosophy builds a broad persuasive picture.
The
28 ideas
with the same theme
[extent to which our reason can reveal truth]:
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21264
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Mortals are incapable of being fully rational
[Plato]
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19740
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A very hungry man cannot choose between equidistant piles of food
[Aristotle]
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1800
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Sceptics say reason is only an instrument, because reason can only be attacked with reason
[Pyrrho, by Diog. Laertius]
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1813
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All reasoning endlessly leads to further reasoning (Mode 12)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
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1811
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Proofs often presuppose the thing to be proved (Mode 15)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
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1812
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All discussion is full of uncertainty and contradiction (Mode 11)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
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1815
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Reasoning needs arbitrary faith in preliminary hypotheses (Mode 14)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
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23343
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Because reason performs all analysis, we should analyse reason - but how?
[Epictetus]
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22752
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Reasoning is impossible without a preconception
[Sext.Empiricus]
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1403
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A rational donkey would starve to death between two totally identical piles of hay
[Buridan, by PG]
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6675
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The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing
[Pascal]
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19433
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The universe is infinitely varied, so the Buridan's Ass dilemma could never happen
[Leibniz]
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22520
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You can't reason someone out of an irrational opinion
[Swift]
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19767
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Reason leads to prudent selfishness, which overrules natural compassion
[Rousseau]
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8099
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The truths of reason instruct, but they do not illuminate
[Joubert]
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8932
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Truth does not come from giving reasons for and against propositions
[Hegel]
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6558
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A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
[Emerson]
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4523
|
What can be 'demonstrated' is of little worth
[Nietzsche]
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8594
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People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared
[Shoemaker]
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3092
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If you believe that some of your beliefs are false, then at least one of your beliefs IS false
[Harman]
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7986
|
Drunken boat pilots are less likely to collide than clearly focused ones
[Baudrillard]
|
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8062
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Proof is a barren idea in philosophy, and the best philosophy never involves proof
[MacIntyre]
|
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3801
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Rationality requires the assumption that things are either for better or worse
[Dennett]
|
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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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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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18781
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Inconsistency doesn't prevent us reasoning about some system
[Mares]
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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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6568
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A game can be played, despite having inconsistent rules
[Fogelin]
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