Never "stop questioning what appears to be obvious and definitive, always to defy the seemingly intact resources of common sense." Never "forget that there are questions that lie beyond the legitimate horizon of science and are nonetheless crucially important to the survival of humanity as we know it."
Leszek Kolakowski. RIP.
July 23, 2009
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“This ideology was supposed to mold the thinking of people, but at a certain moment it became so weak and so ridiculous that nobody believed in it, neither the ruled nor the rulers.”
Where have I seen that happen lately?
Hum...let me think......
Common sense and free inquiry complement each other. It's only when the best and the brightest agree on an uncommon sense version of reality that free inquiry is punished.
Those are inspiring words and I am in full agreement with that sentiment. This is because we are all philosophers, each and every one of us, at least in our own modest little way.
We all dream the impossible dream and fight the unbeatable foe. We all bear with unbearable sorrow and run where the brave dare not go.
Sweet dreams Mr. Kolakowski, for you were true to that glorious quest.
May you reach . . . the unreachable . . . star.
Never "stop questioning what appears to be obvious"?
If you don't stop questioning what appears to be obvious, how would you get anything done? It would have taken all day just to post this short blog comment.
Marcia, you are so right.
I'd change that to "don't be afraid to question the obvious, but once you've satisfied yourself, move on."
What about the less-than-obvious....like the healthcare bill or AGW? Ok to question those? Don't our betters say, "off limits"?
Are we to question the obvious because that's the only questioning that's permitted? Isn't that like searching under the lamplight? What if the answers are less-than-obvious? May they be questioned?
Is anyone questioning the less-than-obvious? How come the less-than-obvious gets a pass while the obvious must stand for interrogation? Is it because the obvious is simple-minded while the less-than-obvious is more...nuanced? Isn't that discriminatory?
Are these things not obvious?
A great man who had passion and hope in his youth and wisdom in his older years. That's a perfect way to be, don't you think?
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