“Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?”
Douglas Adams
This quote defines my approach to science and philosophy; a phenomenon can be wondrous on its own merit, it need not be magical or extraordinary to have value.
Zaphod thinks they’re on a mythic quest to find the lost planet Magrathea. They’ve found a lost planet alright, orbiting twin stars, but Ford still doesn’t believe.
As Ford gazed at the spectacle of light before them excitement burnt inside him, but only the excitement of seeing a strange new planet; it was enough for him to see it as it was. It faintly irritated him that Zaphod had to impose some ludicrous fantasy onto the scene to make it work for him. All this Magrathea nonsense seemed juvenile. Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?
Well, this line of discussion has probably increased the odds of the existence of the “lost planet of Magrathea” in the local casual structure by a lot.
Only if you’re a character in a fictional world that doesn’t itself contain fiction in the same genre that you’re in. If it does, you may be able to work out the rules.
I imagine it is from one of his books but I came across it in the introduction to The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Oddly enough the Hitchhiker series is absolutely full of satirical quotes which can be applied to rationality.
Douglas Adams
This quote defines my approach to science and philosophy; a phenomenon can be wondrous on its own merit, it need not be magical or extraordinary to have value.
Is this from a particular book, or something he said randomly?
It’s from the first Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy book.
Really? What’s the context?
Zaphod thinks they’re on a mythic quest to find the lost planet Magrathea. They’ve found a lost planet alright, orbiting twin stars, but Ford still doesn’t believe.
Of course, in context, they are in fact orbiting the lost planet of Magrathea.
Well, in true fact, there is no lost planet of Magrathea.
I’m tempted to fuss about large worlds, but I think I shall refrain.
...Apophenia quite rightly points out that I am failing to refrain. Oops.
Well, this line of discussion has probably increased the odds of the existence of the “lost planet of Magrathea” in the local casual structure by a lot.
Still, Ford’s position was entirely reasonable ex ante.
How foolish of him to think something like reasonableness would matter in the Hitch-hiker’s Guide universe.
Yes, the trouble with rationality is that it may not work very well if you’re a fictional character.
Only if you’re a character in a fictional world that doesn’t itself contain fiction in the same genre that you’re in. If it does, you may be able to work out the rules.
Fiction logic dictates that even if you do realize you’re fictional, you’re almost certain to be wrong about what kind you’re in.
Oh, certainly.
Thanks.
I imagine it is from one of his books but I came across it in the introduction to The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Oddly enough the Hitchhiker series is absolutely full of satirical quotes which can be applied to rationality.