more from Sydney Shoemaker

Single Idea 8594

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

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 Reference

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.