Full Idea
The great philosophical systems are no more than brilliant tautologies.
Gist of Idea
Great systems of philosophy are just brilliant tautologies
Source
E.M. Cioran (A Short History of Decay [1949], 1 'Farewell')
Book Reference
Cioran,E.M.: 'A Short History of Decay', ed/tr. Howard,Richard [Penguin 2010], p.50
A Reaction
This makes them sound pointless, but the terms used in the system all have some kind of reference, so the systems are in some way about the world, and not mere private games. At the very least, they are a wonderful branch of poetry.
Related Idea
Idea 19621 Originality in philosophy is just the invention of terms [Cioran]