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Full Idea
People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared.
Clarification
Constructing a square equal in size to a circle is impossible
Gist of Idea
People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared
Source
Sydney Shoemaker (Time Without Change [1969], p.54)
Book Ref
Shoemaker,Sydney: 'Identity, Cause and Mind' [OUP 2003], p.54
A Reaction
A lovely concise illustration of the limits of reason. We might distinguish 'rational to us' from 'rational in itself', with only what is true or real aspiring to the latter status. But the latter might be unknowable by us.
| 4226 | If three regions 'freeze' every three, four and five years, after sixty years everything stops for a year [Shoemaker, by Lowe] |
| 8593 | Maybe billions of changeless years have elapsed since my last meal [Shoemaker] |
| 8594 | People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared [Shoemaker] |
| 8595 | If three regions freeze every 3rd, 4th and 5th year, they all freeze together every 60 years [Shoemaker] |
| 8596 | Inability to measure equality doesn't make all lengths unequal [Shoemaker] |
| 8597 | We couldn't verify the earth's rotation if everyone simultaneously fell asleep [Shoemaker] |
| 8598 | If things turn red for an hour and then explode, we wouldn't say the redness was the cause [Shoemaker] |