Friday, January 8, 2016

About precision.........................


One problem with philosophical thinking - as with most academic disciplines - is that it tends to stick ideas into absolute categories, leaving little wiggle room for the complexities and inherent internal contradictions of ordinary human experience.  One of Aristotle's lasting contributions to philosophy and science was his counsel, "We must not expect more precision that the subject matter admits."  And the question, "What is the best way to be an old man?" is far from being a precise one.  In fact it's about as open-ended as they get.

-Daniel Klein,  Travels with Epicurus:  A Journey to a Greek Island in Search of a Fulfilled Life

No comments:

Post a Comment