Single Idea 8107

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 2. Possibility of Metaphysics]

Full Idea

What stops or holds us back in metaphysics is a love of certainty.

Gist of Idea

The love of certainty holds us back in metaphysics

Source

Joseph Joubert (Notebooks [1800], 1814)

Book Reference

Joubert,Joseph: 'Notebooks', ed/tr. Auster,Paul [nyrb 2005], p.143


A Reaction

This is a prominent truth from the age of Descartes, but may have diminished in the twenty-first century. The very best metaphysicians (e.g. Aristotle and Lewis) always end in a trail of dots when things become unsure.