-This statement took several tries before I was able to fully comprehend its meaning. D understands and blatantly states that the musing of philosophers are often called into question because people aren't open to these newly proposed concepts. The latter half of the statement goes to prove its validity, as he states that if we have "sentimental" differences, which are of course our cultural and societal customs, we lose respect for these people; regarding them as barbarians or savages. Without thinking about how it is a fundamental human characteristic to follow the lessons, beliefs and traditions of your own culture.
-On pg 11, D discusses his rules which he strictly adheres to, to ensure he's pursuit for the truth in his own life.
"...never to accept anything as true that I did not plainly know to be such... avoid hasty judgment and prejudice... I would examine into as many parts as possible, and as was required in order to better resolve them... by supposing an order even among those things that do not naturally precede one another.... to make enumerations so complete and reviews so general that I was assured of having omitted nothing..." (excerpts) pg 11, paragraph 19
All of these things he lists above are important traits all people should try to possess. This method of critical thinking, within any aspect of life would allow someone to make careful and well thought out decisions. By doing this, D seeks to better his own life, but in turn gives a good example of the fundamental things that must be taken into account in order to do so. Even though, previously, he has said he does not wish to push his beliefs or systems onto anyone, these personal rules he outlines for himself are a good basis for any persons life.
"...provided only that one abstain from accepting any of them as true that is not true, and that one always adheres to the oder one must follow in deducing the ones from the others, there cannot be any that are so remote that they eventually reached nor so hidden that they are not discovered." pg 11, paragraph 20
Simply put, I think that D, again is stating that through these methods of deduction and reasoning any solution is a possibility. All problems can be fixed by determining the method of deduction necessary and applying it to the problem. Through your own understanding and research you, and all involved persons seek to benefit from this knowledge.
D continues on to discuss how he uses mathematical rationalizations to solve the issues he encounters. The scientific, logical and exact reasoning used can be applied to resolve specific issues, through prescribed methods:
"I thought that in order to better consider them in particular, I ought to suppose them to be relations between lines, since I found nothing more simple, or nothing that I could represent more distinctly to my imagination and to my sense; but that, in order to keep them in my mind or to grasp many of them together, I would have to explicate them by means I would be borrowing all that is best in geometical analysis and algebra, and correcting all the defects of the one by means of the other" pg 12, paragraph 20
-I found the last sentence of this quote to be particularly interesting because it seemed strikingly broad, I thought it was an excellent representation of what would be necessary to improve society. By fixing certain problems, in turn we would change other situations, allowing everyone better opportunities.
Also, I felt that there was one particular quote within D's discussion of math and analysis that stood apart and rang true for life in general, "... even though their objects differed, these sciences did not cease to be all in accord with one anotehr in considering nothing but the various relations or proportions which are found in their objects..." pg 11, paragraph 20. I felt that this meant that all things in the world are inter-related and have a bearing upon the other, whether or not we recognize the connection. When one thing is altered, in turn all other things are altered, and eventually a balance must be reached in accord with all the various elements that are being affected.
2 comments:
"But I had learned in my college days that one cannot image anything so strange or so little beliveable that it had not been said by one of the philosophers, and since then, I had recognized in my travels that all those who have sentiments quite contrary to our own are not for that reason barbarians or savages, but many of them use their reason as much or more than we do." pg 9, paragraph 16
I take this to meen we are all equal. And that as long as we put reason behind everything that we do we will always remain the same. Equal with on another through reason.
That's exactly what I think he's saying, indeed we are equal, but people often feel otherwise because someone adheres to different cultural patterns.
I thought it was funny, because he says how he learned that philosophers are often questioned for their theories, because they are not commonly accepted facts; then he proposes this statement that regardless of traditions or differences we ARE all equal.
I wouldn't quite use the term "ironic" but its a statement that there are some universal truths, but unless you have an open mind & you're ready to receive the message, it will always be questioned.
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