Single Idea 8000

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / C. History of Philosophy / 1. History of Philosophy]

Full Idea

Santayana remarked that he who is ignorant of the history of philosophy is doomed to repeat it.

Gist of Idea

He who is ignorant of the history of philosophy is doomed to repeat it

Source

report of George Santayana (The Life of Reason [1906]) by Alasdair MacIntyre - A Short History of Ethics Ch.1

Book Reference

MacIntyre,Alasdair: 'A Short History of Ethics' [Routledge 1967], p.3


A Reaction

Santayana's remark seems to have been about history in general, so this is a Macintyre thought. It obviously has a lot of truth, and most great philosophers seem hugely knowledgeable. However, ignorance brings a kind of freedom.