The great philosophers and the great works are standards for the selection of what is essential. Everything that we do in studying the history of philosophy ultimately serves their better understanding.
Karl JaspersRead
At the present moment, the security of coherent philosophy, which existed from Parmenides to Hegel, is lost.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote reflects the loss of a unified philosophical framework that has persisted through history.
Karl Jaspers suggests that there has been a significant shift in philosophy, where the cohesive understanding that connected thinkers from Parmenides to Hegel has now fractured. This loss implies a challenge in finding a stable foundation for philosophical inquiry in contemporary times, leading to a state of disarray in understanding life's fundamental truths.
Themes
PhilosophyKnowledgeUnderstandingCoherenceHistorical
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture on the history of philosophy, one might quote Jaspers to highlight the challenges of modern philosophical thought.
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Reason is like an open secret that can become known to anyone at any time; it is the quiet space into which everyone can enter through his own thought
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