From: Sam Norton (elizaphanian@kohath.wanadoo.co.uk)
Date: Sat Aug 06 2005 - 10:28:50 BST
Hi MSH,
> msh 7-30-05:
> Give us an example of an original idea. Better yet, give us an
> example of a stand-alone genius, since that's what this thread is
> about.
Assuming an individual contains both social and intellectual levels, no
stand alone genius can exist apart from their own social level patterns;
those social level patterns are by definition not exclusive to the single
person. So you can point to any original thinker and say 'look at those
social patterns, see he's not as unique as he thinks he is'.
But I think that misses the point.
I would offer Wittgenstein as an example of the stand-alone genius. He
clearly had precursors (Frege, Russell, William James, also Augustine) but
in a sense his later philosophy was a reaction against his own earlier work,
more than a reaction against them.
And the example of his original idea is his _method_ of doing philosophy, ie
seeking a perspicuous representation of the depth grammar of any proposition
or argument.
Where I think the argument against the stand-alone genius has more weight is
where we can talk about the take-up of the new ideas. No one person can
ensure that his or her ideas get taken over by a community.
But it doesn't stop it being true that the source of a new idea comes
through a single person. Which is what I take Pirsig to be saying about the
brujo.
Sam
The New Testament can be summarised easily:
1. Unless you love, you die.
2. If you love, they will kill you.
(From remarks by Herbert McCabe)
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