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We can
only truly estimate what we have achieved
and where the limits of our ability were when our own strength is weakening. (G. H. von Wright: Tieto ja
ymmärrys. Otava 1999) At the same time
as the Chinese were celebrating the successful space flight of the
first taikonaut, Yang Liwei, I went to the library to get the "Book
of Mencius" consisting of the teachings of the philosopher
who lived 2500 years ago. Wisdom and stupidity seem to remain unchanged throughout
the course of times. Differently from stupidity, though, one does
not come across wisdom in just about any corner. At the same time
I am also reading "Tieto and ymmärrys" [Knowledge and
understanding], a comprehensive work by von Wright. It includes
three of his main books: "Tiede ja ihmisjärki" [Science
and human reason], "Minervan pöllö"
[The owl of Minerva] and "Ihminen kulttuurin murroksessa" [Person
in the crisis of culture]. Using these marvellous
books, I try to analyse my own self-critical understanding. |