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Full Idea
The beliefs, emotions, motives, and desires that form our attitudes ...include not only what possibilities we value, but also the limits we should not transgress. ...The strongest limit is what I call 'the unthinkable'.
Gist of Idea
Our attitudes include what possibilities we value, and also what is allowable, and unthinkable
Source
John Kekes (The Human Condition [2010], 03.2)
Book Ref
Kekes,John: 'The Human Condition' [OUP 2010], p.53
A Reaction
Another chance to link to my favourite idea from Democritus! Ideally we want a theory which shows how a vision of the possibilities immediately points to the limits, and to what is unthinkable.
Related Idea
Idea 519 One must avoid even speaking of evil deeds [Democritus (attr)]