more from Thomas Nagel

Single Idea 3240

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 3. Wisdom Deflated]

Full Idea

Certain forms of perplexity (say about freedom, knowledge and the meaning of life) seem to me to embody more insight than any of the supposed solutions to those problems.

Gist of Idea

There is more insight in fundamental perplexity about problems than in their supposed solutions

Source

Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], Intro)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'The View from Nowhere' [OUP 1989], p.4


A Reaction

Obviously false solutions won't embody much insight. This sounds good, but I suspect that the insight is in the recognition of the facts which give rise to the perplexity. I can't think of anything in favour of perplexity for its own sake.