display all the ideas for this combination of texts
4 ideas
23557 | To judge agents in remote times and cultures we need a moral resentment weaker than blame [Fricker,M] |
Full Idea: I think that identifying forms of moral resentment that fall short of blame but which are agent-directed is the key to achieving appropriate moral response across historical and cultural distance. | |
From: Miranda Fricker (Epistemic Injustice [2007], 4.2) | |
A reaction: Very good. Simple blame for horrible actions performed in remote rather horrible societies is pointless. But switching off moral sensibilities when reading history and anthropology looks like a slippery slope, so 'moral resentment' is nice. |
7912 | Judging by effects, love looks more like hatred than friendship [Rochefoucauld] |
Full Idea: If love be judged by its most visible effects it looks more like hatred than friendship. | |
From: La Rochefoucauld (Maxims [1663], 072) | |
A reaction: Presumably he is thinking of pursuit, possession and jealousy. The remark is plausible if you add the word 'sometimes' to it, but as a universal generalisation it is ridiculous, the product of a society where they competed to exceed in cynicism. |
7915 | Supreme cleverness is knowledge of the real value of things [Rochefoucauld] |
Full Idea: Supreme cleverness is knowledge of the real value of things. | |
From: La Rochefoucauld (Maxims [1663], 244) | |
A reaction: Good. Right at the heart of wisdom is some kind of grasp of right values. It is so complex and subtle that it seems like pure intuition, but I am sure that reason is involved. 'Intelligent' people tend to be better at it. Some justifications can be given. |
7917 | Realising our future misery is a kind of happiness [Rochefoucauld] |
Full Idea: To realise how much misery we have to face is in itself a kind of happiness. | |
From: La Rochefoucauld (Maxims [1663], 570) | |
A reaction: Probably true. Knowing that you have got hold of the truth is a sort of happiness in any area, no matter how grim the truth. However, a happy life could easily be poisoned by brooding on the future. Should the happily married brood on future solitude? |