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Quote by J.M. Coetzee

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Elizabeth Costello

The book presents a series of interconnected episodes in the life of Elizabeth Costello, a celebrated novelist from Australia. Through her travels to give lectures and participate in conferences, the narrative examines her evolving thoughts on topics such as animal rights, censorship, the nature of evil, and the limits of reason. The work blends fiction with philosophical inquiry, often blurring the line between the author's own views and those of her protagonist, and raises questions about the responsibilities of writers and the power of storytelling. more

Author

J.M. Coetzee

Browse famous quotes and profile details for J.M. Coetzee. more

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“The power of reason is thought small in these days, but I remain an unrepentant rationalist. Reason may be a small force, but it is constant, and works always in one direction, while the forces of unreason destroy one another in futile strife. Therefore every orgy of unreason in the end strengthens the friends of reason, and shows afresh that they are the only true friends of humanity.”

ThinkingReasonTruthRationality
Book:Sceptical Essays
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“The question of the relation between modernity and postmodernity revolves around the issue of 'legitimation.' Modernity, then, appeals to science to legitimate its claim - and by 'science' we simply mean the notion of a universal, autonomous reason. Science, then, is opposed to narrative, which attempts not to prove its claims but rather to proclaim them within a story.”

ReasonTruthScienceNarrativeModernityPostmodernismLegitimation
Book:Who's Afraid of Postmodernism?: Taking Derrida, Lyotard, and Foucault to Church
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“Reason is up to these demands because it is an open-ended combinatorial system, an engine for generating an unlimited number of new ideas. Once it is programmed with a basic self-interest and an ability to communicate with others, its own logic will impel it, in the fullness of time, to respect the interests of ever-increasing numbers of others. It is reason too that can always take note of the shortcomings of previous exercises of reasoning, and update and improve itself in response. And if you detect a flaw in this argument, it is reason that allows you to point it out and defend an alternative.”

Reason
Book:The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined
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“The idea that reason and rationality is somehow separate from and antithetical to ones ' heart' is one of the most absurd theologies I have ever in my life heard." ~R. Alan Woods ("Just Keeping It Real", Copyright 2012)”

ReasonTheologyReasoningRationalityR Alan Woods
Book:Just Keep’in It Real: The Complete Collection of Essays, Notes, Letters, Articles, and Reviews
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