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Ideas for 'The Philosophy of Philosophy', 'The Laws' and 'Action, Reasons and Causes'

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 5. Aims of Philosophy / e. Philosophy as reason
Progress in philosophy is incremental, not an immature seeking after drama [Williamson]
     Full Idea: The incremental progress which I envisage for philosophy lacks the drama after which some philosophers still hanker, and that hankering is itself a symptom of the intellectual immaturity that helps hold philosophy back.
     From: Timothy Williamson (The Philosophy of Philosophy [2007], Intro)
     A reaction: This could stand as a motto for the whole current profession of analytical philosophy. It means that if anyone attempts to be dramatic they can make their own way out. They'll find Kripke out there, smoking behind the dustbins.
We shouldn't always follow where the argument leads! [Lewis on Plato]
     Full Idea: There comes a time not to go on following where the argument leads!
     From: comment on Plato (The Laws [c.348 BCE], 667b) by David Lewis - Against Structural Universals 'Variant'
     A reaction: Lewis is a fine one to talk, since he follows argument that take him past innumerable incredulous stares of onlookers.