ReadingPlato, Apology, 31d (tr. G. M. A. Grube), c. 399 BCEThe signI have a divine or spiritual sign… It began in my childhood: a voice, and whenever it speaks it turns me away from something I am about to do, but it never encourages me to do anything.
I have a divine or spiritual sign… It began in my childhood: a voice, and whenever it speaks it turns me away from something I am about to do, but it never encourages me to do anything.
ReadingImmanuel Kant, An Answer to the Question: What Is Enlightenment?, 1784Self-imposed immaturityEnlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another.
Enlightenment is man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. Immaturity is the inability to use one's own understanding without the guidance of another.
ReadingHenry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, 1849A counter frictionIf the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine.
If the machine of government is of such a nature that it requires you to be the agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break the law. Let your life be a counter friction to stop the machine.
ReadingThomas Hobbes, Leviathan, ch. 29, 1651The public conscienceThe law is the public conscience, by which he hath already undertaken to be guided.
The law is the public conscience, by which he hath already undertaken to be guided.
ReadingDavid Hume, A Treatise of Human Nature, II.iii.3, 1739The slave of the passionsReason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.
Reason is, and ought only to be the slave of the passions, and can never pretend to any other office than to serve and obey them.