RE: virus: Faith, Logic and Purpose

Robin Faichney (r.j.faichney@stir.ac.uk)
Sat, 22 Nov 1997 09:06:21 -0000


> From: Wade T.Smith[SMTP:wade_smith@harvard.edu]
>
> >DT doesn't say "do science
> >instead of philosophy", it says "do philosophy
> >properly".
>
> The real problem is, what is 'doing philosophy properly' all about?
> And I
> agree it is a way of honing the intellect, even forging it, but once
> one
> sets up to get some real answers, it _must_ be left behind.
>
This implies that you get all the right questions,
and then you go out and find their answers. Not
so. The task of finding the right questions is a
never-ending one.

> I guess I am at all points looking for answers, not just jabberwocky.
>
So the right questions are jabberwocky? I know
you don't believe that, so why do you say it?

> However, it is all I do here- standing in uffish thought, that is.
>
> Philosophy then, let it be the mother preparing her child for the
> quest.
> It was nice to sup on the broth at that hearth, but you can't go home
> again.
>
That's true for individual questions, but not in
general. If home is where questions are
prepared, and "out there" is where they're
answered, then as well going out seeking
answers everyday, you need to be preparing
new questions every evening.

If you really disagree with that, then you
must think you have all the right questions
already, so perhaps you would share them
with us? :-)

Robin