Roger Scruton
1944 - still alive:
Clear traditional philosopher who nevertheless calls on desperation when making conclusions.
Geoffrey Hamilton
November 29, 2005
This thinker has put his favourite philosophers into such a clear light, though of course
not always correct (but which I could not improve on), that
I will use his synopsis of idealist thinkers, like Kant, as definitive. I will even aim for his kind of clarity
though I know I am not capable. Unfortunately he is so palpably desperate to believe in anything rather than nothing
he comes to numerous hasty conclusions, notably regarding his belief in god, his patronizing separation
of humanity from the rest of nature and his over emphasis on the meaning of music.
If he does take seriously
the ideas he expressed in his book Philosophy: Principles and Problems and the two statements
regarding morality and how we play the "moral game", perhaps he would see how arbitrary his beliefs really are
and instead of fudging his absolutism with a reasonable guile he could enjoy making it all
up as he goes. If he only realized how he will eventually believe even that which he purposely fabricates he would
not need to be so wrong in his conclusions.
GRH
back
Scruton site
