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Single Idea 21264

[catalogued under 2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 9. Limits of Reason]

Full Idea

We mustn't assume that mortal eyes will ever be able to look upon reason and get to know it adequately.

Gist of Idea

Mortals are incapable of being fully rational

Source

Plato (The Laws [c.348 BCE], 897d)

A Reaction

This is in the context of the rational control of the whole Cosmos. I presume Plato would be flabbergasted by the findings of recent physics and cosmology. Did Kant believe that he was being completely rational about ethics?

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.1554