Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Futurity Via Obscurity

I'm reading a collection of essays by Isaiah Berlin.

He doesn't think there is one correct system of ethics. He thinks there is some limited number of ethical systems humans can decide to follow. I found his account confusing, but then I came across this:
...that Berlin's articulation of value pluralism contains many ambiguities and even obscurities has only encouraged further work on the subject by other philosophers.
Philosophers - don't be too clear!

For I fear
that scholars may shirk
exploring your work
if you say what is simply true
with no more explaining to do.

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