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Single Idea 19572

[from 'Miscellaneous Observations' by Novalis, in 12. Knowledge Sources / C. Rationalism / 1. Rationalism ]

Full Idea

Experience is the test of the rational - and vice versa.

Gist of Idea

Experiences tests reason, and reason tests experience

Source

Novalis (Miscellaneous Observations [1798], 010)

Book Reference

Novalis: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Stoljar,M.M. [SUNY 1997], p.24


A Reaction

A wonderful remark. Surely we can't ignore our need to test claims of pure logic by filling in the variables with concrete instances, to assess validity? And philosophy without examples is doomed to be abstract waffle. Coherence is the combined aim.