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Saturday, February 21. 2009

QQQ on epistemological modesty

The correct position is the one held by self-loathing intellectuals, like Isaiah Berlin, Edmund Burke, James Madison, Michael Oakeshott and others. These were pointy heads who understood the limits of what pointy heads can know. The phrase for this outlook is epistemological modesty, which would make a fine vanity license plate.


The idea is that the world is too complex for us to know, and therefore policies should be designed that take account of our ignorance.


David Brooks

Posted by The Barrister in Quotidian Quotable Quote (QQQ) at 08:16 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

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Would Socrates be the first to suggest this? (Though I've always had a sneaking suspicion he was a little disingenuous.)
#1 Theo (Link) on 2009-02-21 08:56 (Reply)
It is sadly lacking in many scientific endeavors. Like climate science. Technology works because engineers only tackle problems they know how to solve. These are many but the intractable are legion.
#2 Roy Lofquist on 2009-02-21 11:24 (Reply)
I stick to ontological modesty.
#3 Ron Hardin (Link) on 2009-02-21 11:27 (Reply)
I think, therefore I may be.
#4 Jephnol on 2009-02-21 17:29 (Reply)
I'm sure both you guys exist. Call me ontologically immodest.
#5 Tom C on 2009-02-21 17:59 (Reply)
Wouldn't declaring yourself ontologically immodest suggest that you exist, therefore you think? Decartes must be rolling in his grave...wait...wouldn't that suggest he's thinking about your proposal, ergo he still exists. I think I just formulated a proof for the afterlife! But first I have to prove I exist. Damn it! Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.
#5.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2009-02-21 21:26 (Reply)
The smart-ass in me was wanting to ask if you weren't being ontologically dishonest...Then I thought, does that even make sense? Then I did a google search and got 3 hits...Then I read those three links and I thought maybe they made sense, but then again, I wasn't sure. Maybe those using the term are themselves being dishonest if it is possible that such a concept cannot exist, since the very definition of the word implies existence. I mean, something either exists or it doesn't. Whether someone lies about it's existence or not should not be a consideration in judging its validity. Then I realized that this entire argument is jejune to the ongoing discussion here. It's just something I made up in my own head and tried to inject into the ongoing (or not ongoing) conversation. Perhaps I am the one being ontologically dishonest. Alas, it is winter and there is lint in my naval. On the other hand, I live in Florida and it's a beautiful day outside...of course the lawn needs to be mowed.
#5.1.1 KRW on 2009-02-22 11:41 (Reply)

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