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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Bacchae' and 'Critique of Practical Reason'

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4 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined
6207 What fills me with awe are the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me [Kant]
     Full Idea: Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe, the oftener and the more steadily we reflect on them: the starry heavens above me and the moral law within me.
     From: Immanuel Kant (Critique of Practical Reason [1788], Concl)
     A reaction: I am beginning to think that the two major issues of all philosophy are ontology and metaethics, and Kant is close to agreeing with me. He certainly wasn't implying that astronomy was a key aspect of philosophy.
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 / 5. Aims of Philosophy / e. Philosophy as reason
6184 Consistency is the highest obligation of a philosopher [Kant]
     Full Idea: Consistency is the highest obligation of a philosopher and yet the most rarely found.
     From: Immanuel Kant (Critique of Practical Reason [1788], I.1.1.§3)
     A reaction: I agree with this, and it also strikes me as the single most important principle of Kant's philosophy, which is the key to his whole moral theory.
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy
9283 Our ancient beliefs can never be overthrown by subtle arguments [Euripides]
     Full Idea: Teiresias: We have no use for theological subtleties./ The beliefs we have inherited, as old as time,/ Cannot be overthrown by any argument,/ Nor by the most inventive ingenuity.
     From: Euripides (The Bacchae [c.407 BCE], 201)
     A reaction: [trans. Philip Vellacott (Penguin)] Compare Idea 8243. While very conservative societies have amazing resilience in maintaining traditional beliefs, modern culture eats into them, not directly by argument, but by arguments at fifth remove.