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I love this cartoon. But what's the lesson?
Some folk say the lesson is skepticism. That is, once we recognize that we are merely the latest twig on a perpetually growing, tangled and unimaginably vast and complex vine we will call into question every judgment we make.../1
Some folk say the lesson is skepticism. That is, once we recognize that we are merely the latest twig on a perpetually growing, tangled and unimaginably vast and complex vine we will call into question every judgment we make.../1
from the outer reaches of our twig. The only escape from provincialism and hubris is to refuse to say that we any closer to “the Truth” than any other twig. And that means adopting a heady dose of skepticism. But take a closer look at that analysis and problems emerge. /2
You see, one of the judgments we make from the outer reaches of our twig is that we should call into question every judgment from our twig. But this skepticism is itself a judgment made from our twig. Do you see the problem here? /3
If we are to be skeptical of our judgments we should be skeptical of our skepticism. Skepticism, you see, is not a neutral position which helps us step outside of our historical location altogether and assume an austere view from nowhere. /4
Rather, it is but one more manifestation of a perspective on the outer reaches of one slowly growing twig. Let me suggest a far better response: humility. In other words, when we realize that we’re on the outer reaches of one twig we will be infused with a healthy.../5
recognition of our own limited horizons. As a result, we will be less apt to dismiss others and more apt to listen, recognizing that another twig just might have some important insights into the truth of things.
We twigs need to stick together.
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We twigs need to stick together.
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