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Single Idea 16120

[from 'Euthydemus' by Plato, in 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 1. Knowledge ]

Full Idea

If there exists the knowledge of how to make men immortal, but without the knowledge of how to use this immortality, there seems to be no value in it.

Gist of Idea

Knowing how to achieve immortality is pointless without the knowledge how to use immortality

Source

Plato (Euthydemus [c.379 BCE], 289b)

Book Reference

Plato: 'Complete Works', ed/tr. Cooper,John M. [Hackett 1997], p.726


A Reaction

I take this to be not a gormless utilitarianism about knowledge, but a plea for holism, that knowledge only has value as part of some larger picture. The big view is the important view. He's wrong, though. Work out the use later.