31 JAN 2012 by ideonexus

 Science for Knowledge, Not Utility

Science only means knowledge; and for [Greek] ancients it did only mean knowledge. Thus the favorite science of the Greeks was Astronomy, because it was as abstract as Algebra. ... We may say that the great Greek ideal was to have no use for useful things. The Slave was he who learned useful things; the Freeman was he who learned useless things. This still remains the ideal of many noble men of science, in the sense they do desire truth as the great Greeks desired it; and their attitude is an...
Folksonomies: knowledge utility
Folksonomies: knowledge utility
  1  notes

Chesterton appeals to the ideal of science for its own sake and not for utilitarianism.

10 AUG 2011 by ideonexus

 Freedom

The morning comes, the night decays, the watchmen leave their stations; The grave is burst, the spices shed, the linen wrapped up; The bones of death, the cov’ring clay, the sinews shrunk & dry’d Reviving shake, inspiring move, breathing, awakening, Spring like redeemed captives when their bonds & bars are burst. Let the slave grinding at the mill run out into the field, Let him look up into the heavens & laugh in the bright air; Let the inchained soul, shut up in darkness and...
  1  notes

Blake describes freedom from oppression.

18 MAY 2011 by ideonexus

 Only the Educated are Free

We must not believe the many, who say that only free people ought to be educated, but we should rather believe the philosophers who say that only the educated are free.
Folksonomies: education philosophy
Folksonomies: education philosophy
  1  notes

Quote from a Roman philosopher and former slave.