The fantasist in whom the reality barrier has broken down is unreliable, believing things when he should not, and telling things as true when they are not. Simon Blackburn More Quotes by Simon Blackburn More Quotes From Simon Blackburn When the hoary old question of nature versus nurture comes around, sides form quickly. Simon Blackburn nature-vs-nurture form sides Since there is no telling in advance where it may lead, reflection can be seen as dangerous . Simon Blackburn dangerous reflection may An ethic gone wrong is an essential preliminary to the sweat shop or the concentration camp and the death march. Simon Blackburn sweat essentials gone We can grieve over lost powers and memories, or rejoice over gained knowledge and maturity, according to taste. Simon Blackburn maturity grieving memories Contemporary culture is not very good on responsibility. Simon Blackburn very-good responsibility culture The scientific world is to be less threatening than was feared. It is to made safe for human beings. And the way to make it safe is to reflect on the foundation of knowledge. Simon Blackburn foundation safe world It is sometimes said that one of the casualties of the general suspicion and mistrust that permeated the old Soviet Union was that the distinction between truth and other motivations to believe tended to break down. Upon hearing a purported piece of information, the reaction was not 'Is this true?' but 'Why is this person saying this? - What machinations or manipulations are going on here?' The question of truth did not, as it were, have the social space in which it could breath. Simon Blackburn motivation space believe The absolutist lays down the law, but the relativist hears only roaring and bawling. Or, when the relativist voice, as it is heard from philosophers such as Nietzsche or James, itself starts to grate and sounds shrill, as it often does, and when the relativist then offers concessions, the absolutist hears only insincerity. The war of words can often turn into a dialogue of the deaf, and this too if part of its power to arouse outrage and fury. Simon Blackburn voice law war Paradigms can be asked to show their worth, an some of them do not stand up. Simon Blackburn paradigm shows The absolutist takes himself to speak to the ages, with the tongue of angels, but the relativist hears only one version among others, the subjectivity of the here and now. Simon Blackburn absolutism angel age The absolutist trumpets his plain vision; the relativist sees only someone who is unaware of his own spectacles. Simon Blackburn absolutism trumpets vision Wittgenstein imagined that the philosopher was like a therapist whose task was to put problems finally to rest, and to cure us ofbeing bewitched by them. So we are told to stop, to shut off lines of inquiry, not to find things puzzling nor to seek explanations. This is intellectual suicide. Simon Blackburn philosophical intellectual suicide The absolutist parades his good solid grounding in observation, reason, objectivity, truth and fact; the relativist sees only fetishes. Simon Blackburn absolutism objectivity facts
