“The bourgeois thinkers of the eighteenth century thus turned Aristotle's formula on its head: satisfactions which the Greek philosopher had identified with leisure were now transposed to the sphere of work, while tasks lacking in any financial reward were drained of all significance and left to the haphazard attentions of decadent dilettantes. It now seemed as impossible that one could be happy and unproductive as it had once seemed unlikely that one could work and be human.” HumansLeftAttentionImpossibleCenturyTasksRewardsFinancialPhilosopherSatisfactionGreekSignificanceFormulasThinkerSpheresLeisureLackingUnlikelyBourgeoisDrainedGreek PhilosopherUnproductiveHaphazardDilettantes Author:Alain de Botton
“What a mathematical proof actually does is show that certain conclusions, such as the irrationality of , follow from certain premises, such as the principle of mathematical induction. The validity of these premises is an entirely independent matter which can safely be left to philosophers.” DoeMatterShowsCertainLeftPrinciplesIndependentPhilosopherProofConclusionMathematicalPremisesValidityIrrationalityMathematical Proof Book:Mathematics Source: Mathematics
“It was modesty that invented the word "philosopher" in Greece and left the magnificent overweening presumption in calling oneselfwise to the actors of the spirit--the modesty of such monsters of pride and sovereignty as Pythagoras, as Plato.” WisdomSpiritActorsLeftPrideCallingPhilosophicalPhilosopherMonstersModestyMagnificentPlatoSovereigntyGreecePresumption Book:The Gay Science: With a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs Source: The Gay Science: With a Prelude in Rhymes and an Appendix of Songs