Continuing the discussion of moral codes… It’s difficult to encapsulate this creative attitude into a tidy formula, but I think this conveys my theory of the “practice of theory” as well as anything:
There are exceptions to every rule, and rules for every exception.
We need rules to live effectively (not just rules to live by, but laws of physics, etc), and in order for those rules to be effective, we need to suppose they are valid and true. We can’t be happy or productive if we never really beleive that our rules are trustworthy and firm. Even the most vicious fire-breathing skeptics can’t help taking many assumptions for granted.
But the truth is that our rules are not absolutely valid or ultimately true — even this rule is invalid because it’s at odds with itself: it poses as truth yet says there are no truths, so therefore it must be false, but if it’s false, then there must be truths…
Well surprisingly (I have found with experience rather than logic) that this problem turns out to be acceptable once you adjust your attitude, come to terms with it, and learn to enjoy the practice of theory as something good in itself, rather than something that’s supposedly only worthwhile if it produces eternal truths.
Rather than trying to live by the negative (and contradictory) notion that “there is no truth,” isn’t it more effective to interpret that into something positive. It’s reassuring to have a concrete and succinct mantra to fall back on. Given a choice between this and “if a tree falls in the forest…,” or “never give up,” or whatever, I’ll take this one for guidance — or a push — into any situation.
Assume that our rules are valid and true, but keep looking for exceptions. And then the point of finding the exceptions isn’t merely to disprove the old rules, but to continue making the rules more effective and refined.
It’s unstoppable in its ability to keep thinking alive.
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