Wednesday 19 June 2013

Memorable first lines from philosophy journals

Now this is neat.  A summary of some of the best, most memorable, opening lines (often unintentionally) from philosophy journals. Including these four:

“Let there be no vulgar suspense: the title will be answered in the affirmative.”
- Timothy Williamson, Is Knowing a State of Mind

“Imagine a dog idling in the foreground, a tree in the middle distance, and a turnip lying on the ground behind the tree.”
- Willard Van Orman Quine, On the Nature of Modern Values

“To talk about thinking seems to me so presumptuous that I feel I owe you a justification.”
- Hannah Arendt, Thinking and Moral Considerations

"One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit. Everyone knows this. Each of us contributes his share."
- Harry Frankfurt, "On Bullshit."

Shame the contents of the tracts generally gets worse as they proceed.

More memorable opening lines here.

[Hat tip Toby Manhire at The Listener]

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