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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Enquiry Conc Human Understanding' and 'The Power of Words'

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined

23367	Even pointing a finger should only be done for a reason [Epictetus]
	Full Idea: Philosophy says it is not right even to stretch out a finger without some reason.
	From: Epictetus (fragments/reports [c.57], 15)
	A reaction: The key point here is that philosophy concerns action, an idea on which Epictetus is very keen. He rather despise theory. This idea perfectly sums up the concept of the wholly rational life (which no rational person would actually want to live!).

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy

2196	The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy [Hume]
	Full Idea: The observation of human blindness and weakness is the result of all philosophy.
	From: David Hume (Enquiry Conc Human Understanding [1748], IV.I.26)
	A reaction: No wonder some people dislike philosophy. There is no question that the human race is often ludicrously over-confident about its attempts to understand, and a careful examination of the situation tends to undermine such confidence.