919. I sharply disagree with Hartshorne's . . .

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I sharply disagree with Hartshorne's statement that philosophy, in the sense of "the inclusive human wisdom is . . . to some extent irreducibly intuitive and personal."

That such wisdom arises from, and involves critical reflection on, what is "irreducibly intuitive and personal" is certainly correct. But the whole object of philosophy's critical reflection, as much as any other, is to transcend the "irreducibly intuitive and personal." Of course, what the philosopher as a person chooses to believe may very well be as intuitive and personal as the beliefs chosen by anyone else. But qua philosopher, she or he is sworn to search for what, by right, ought to be believed, whatever she or he, or anyone else, finds intuitive and, in fact, does believe.

5 June 2005