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Single Idea 8226

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 6. Hopes for Philosophy ]

Full Idea

Bergson said that a well-posed problem was a problem solved

Gist of Idea

A well-posed problem is a problem solved

Source

report of Henri Bergson (works [1910]) by G Deleuze / F Guattari - What is Philosophy? 1.3

Book Ref

Deleuze/Guattari: 'What is Philosophy?' [Verso 1994], p.81


A Reaction

This is fairly well in tune with the logical positivist style of philosophising, which tends to ask "what exactly is the question?" rather more than it asks "what is the answer?". I thoroughly approve of both of them (e.g. on free will).


The 11 ideas with the same theme [optimistic views of what philosophy can achieve]:

Socrates opened philosophy to all, but Plato confined moral enquiry to a tiny elite [Vlastos on Socrates]
If all laws were abolished, philosophers would still live as they do now [Aristippus elder]
Even people who go astray in their opinions have contributed something useful [Aristotle]
Free thinking has no presuppositions [Hegel]
Philosophy is a search for real truth [Peirce]
Philosophy is more valuable than much of science, because of its beauty [Nietzsche]
A well-posed problem is a problem solved [Bergson, by Deleuze/Guattari]
If a question can be framed at all, it is also possible to answer it [Wittgenstein]
For a good theory of the world, we must focus on our flabby foundational vocabulary [Quine]
It is no longer possible to be a sage, but we can practice the exercise of wisdom [Hadot]
Science studies phenomena, but only metaphysics tells us what exists [Mumford]