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Single Idea 6558
[filed under theme 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 9. Limits of Reason
]
Full Idea
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do.
Gist of Idea
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
Source
Ralph Waldo Emerson (Self-Reliance [1841], p.37)
Book Ref
Emerson,Ralph Waldo: 'Essays (First and Second Series)' [Dent 1906], p.37
A Reaction
A remark to warm the hearts of pragmatists, Wittgensteinians, Nietzscheans and the post-modern mob. But pay careful attention to the word "foolish". Robert Fogelin gives a very balanced view of the matter (e.g. Idea 6557).
Related Idea
Idea 6557
Humans may never be able to attain a world view which is both rich and consistent [Fogelin]
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
|
Sceptics say reason is only an instrument, because reason can only be attacked with reason
[Pyrrho, by Diog. Laertius]
|
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1815
|
Reasoning needs arbitrary faith in preliminary hypotheses (Mode 14)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
|
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1812
|
All discussion is full of uncertainty and contradiction (Mode 11)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
|
|
1811
|
Proofs often presuppose the thing to be proved (Mode 15)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
|
|
1813
|
All reasoning endlessly leads to further reasoning (Mode 12)
[Agrippa, by Diog. Laertius]
|
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23343
|
Because reason performs all analysis, we should analyse reason - but how?
[Epictetus]
|
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22752
|
Reasoning is impossible without a preconception
[Sext.Empiricus]
|
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1403
|
A rational donkey would starve to death between two totally identical piles of hay
[Buridan, by PG]
|
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6675
|
The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing
[Pascal]
|
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19433
|
The universe is infinitely varied, so the Buridan's Ass dilemma could never happen
[Leibniz]
|
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22520
|
You can't reason someone out of an irrational opinion
[Swift]
|
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19767
|
Reason leads to prudent selfishness, which overrules natural compassion
[Rousseau]
|
|
8099
|
The truths of reason instruct, but they do not illuminate
[Joubert]
|
|
8932
|
Truth does not come from giving reasons for and against propositions
[Hegel]
|
|
6558
|
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds
[Emerson]
|
|
4523
|
What can be 'demonstrated' is of little worth
[Nietzsche]
|
|
8594
|
People have had good reasons for thinking that the circle has been squared
[Shoemaker]
|
|
3092
|
If you believe that some of your beliefs are false, then at least one of your beliefs IS false
[Harman]
|
|
7986
|
Drunken boat pilots are less likely to collide than clearly focused ones
[Baudrillard]
|
|
8062
|
Proof is a barren idea in philosophy, and the best philosophy never involves proof
[MacIntyre]
|
|
3801
|
Rationality requires the assumption that things are either for better or worse
[Dennett]
|
|
1591
|
Unfortunately for reason, argument can't be used to establish the value of argument
[Roochnik]
|
|
1599
|
Attempts to suspend all presuppositions are hopeless, because a common ground must be agreed for the process
[Roochnik]
|
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18781
|
Inconsistency doesn't prevent us reasoning about some system
[Mares]
|
|
6557
|
Humans may never be able to attain a world view which is both rich and consistent
[Fogelin]
|
|
6568
|
A game can be played, despite having inconsistent rules
[Fogelin]
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