I’m reminded of a tale retold by Plato, about the famous philosopher Thales who was so intent at looking at the star that he fell into a well. This ‘meme’ is actually as ancient as civilization itself (Thales is indeed pre-Socratic, that is, this anecdote predates the very idea of rationality).
Other early tellers of tales about Thales point in quite a different direction: I think the single best-known story about him is of how one year he worked out that it was going to be a good year for olive oil, hired all the olive presses, and made an absolute killing when the autumn harvest came along. (Aristotle’s telling, at least, is explicitly aimed at indicating that philosophers are perfectly capable of turning their talents to practical ends, and that if they don’t it’s by choice.)
I’m reminded of a tale retold by Plato, about the famous philosopher Thales who was so intent at looking at the star that he fell into a well. This ‘meme’ is actually as ancient as civilization itself (Thales is indeed pre-Socratic, that is, this anecdote predates the very idea of rationality).
Other early tellers of tales about Thales point in quite a different direction: I think the single best-known story about him is of how one year he worked out that it was going to be a good year for olive oil, hired all the olive presses, and made an absolute killing when the autumn harvest came along. (Aristotle’s telling, at least, is explicitly aimed at indicating that philosophers are perfectly capable of turning their talents to practical ends, and that if they don’t it’s by choice.)