Single Idea 7490

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 3. Wisdom Deflated]

Full Idea

As well as killing the need for God, Darwin's legacy transformed the idea of wisdom, as some definite attainable state, however far off.

Gist of Idea

Because of Darwin, wisdom as a definite attainable state has faded

Source

Peter Watson (Ideas [2005], Ch.31)

Book Reference

Watson,Peter: 'Ideas: from fire to Freud' [Phoenix 2006], p.875


A Reaction

Where does this leave philosophy, if it is still (as I like to think) the love of wisdom? The best we can hope for is wisdom as a special sort of journey - touring, rather than arriving.