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17992 | The main aim of philosophy is to describe the whole Universe. |
Full Idea: It seems to me that the most important and interesting thing which philosophers have tried to do ...is to give a general description of the whole of the Universe. | |||
From: G.E. Moore (Some Main Problems of Philosophy [1911], Ch. 1) | |||
A reaction: He adds that they aim to show what is in it, and what might be in it, and how the two relate. This sort of big view is the one I favour. I think the hallmark of philosophical thought is a high level of generality. He next proceeds to defend common sense. |