The fundamental question of political philosophy, one that precedes questions about how the state should be organized, is whether there should be any state at all. Why not have anarchy?
Robert NozickRead
And although it might be best of all to be Socrates satisfied, having both happiness and depth, we would give up some happiness in order to gain the depth.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the value of intellectual depth over superficial happiness.
Robert Nozick suggests that while a state of happiness and a profound understanding of life are both desirable, the pursuit of deeper knowledge and insight may require a sacrifice of immediate pleasure or happiness. He presents a philosophical contemplation on the balance between experiential pleasure and the richness of intellectual or existential depth, implying that the latter may hold greater value in the long run.
Themes
HappinessDepthWisdomPhilosophySacrifice
In practice
Example use cases
In a philosophy class discussing the values of happiness versus depth of understanding.
More from Robert Nozick
All quotes βGiven the complexity of interpersonal relationships and institutions and the complexity of co-ordination of the actions of many people, it is enormously unlikely that, even if there were one ideal pattern for society, it could be arrived at in an a priori fashion. And even supposing that some great genius did come along with a blueprint, who could have the confidence that it could work
Robert NozickRead
There are only individual people, different individual people, with their own individual lives. Using one of these people for the benefit of others uses him and benefits the others. Nothing more. What happens is that something is done to him for the sake of others. Talk of an overall social good covers this up.
Robert NozickRead
I think philosophers can do things akin to theoretical scientists, in that, having read about empirical data, they too can think of what hypotheses and theories might account for that data. So there's a continuity between philosophy and science in that way.
Robert NozickRead
The history of philosophy is actually full of people who argue for rather wild and incredible views, and their reputations are based on the skill of arguing for them.
Robert NozickRead
What else can matter to us, other than how our lives feel from the inside?
Robert NozickRead
Similar quotes
To me the biggest irony of this lifetime that I'm living is that for someone who thrives in the public eye in the creative ways that I do, I actually don't enjoy being in the public eye.
Alanis MorissetteRead
Itβs not God that I donβt accept, Alyosha, only I most respectfully return him the ticket.
Fyodor DostoevskyRead
Democracy doesn't recognize east or west; democracy is simply people's will. Therefore, I do not acknowledge that there are various models of democracy; there is just democracy itself.
Shirin EbadiRead
My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel; I know not where I am nor what I do.
William ShakespeareRead
The psychotic does not merely think he sees four blue bivalves with floppy wings wandering up the wall; he does see them. An hallucination is not, strictly speaking, manufactured in the brain; it is received by the brain, like any 'real' sense datum, and the patient act in response to this to-him-very-real perception of reality in as logical a way as we do to our sense data. In any way to suppose he only 'thinks he sees it' is to misunderstand totally the experience of psychosis.
Philip K. DickRead
Agitators are a set of interfering, meddling people, who come down to some perfectly contented class of the community and sow the seeds of discontent amongst them. That is the reason why agitators are so absolutely necessary. Without them, in our incomplete state, there would be no advance towards civilization.
Oscar WildeRead