IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/homoec/v39y2022i2d10.1007_s41412-022-00120-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Philosophic Fables

Author

Listed:
  • Gerald Gaus

    (University of Arizona)

  • John Thrasher

    (Chapman University)

Abstract

Ken Binmore in Crooked Thinking or Straight Thought? argues that "straight thought" in the tradition of Epicurus and his naturalistic, empirical followers is the proper cure for the "crooked thinking" of philosophers. In response, Gaus argues that the dichotomy between "crooked" and "straight" thinking in philosophy is a false one that ignores what he calls the "paradox of philosophy:" that philosophers are committed to the authority of reason, while also recognizing that reason rarely speaks with one voice on important issues. Instead, Gaus argues that we should think of philosophical doctrines as fables that are constructed to scratch philosophical itches that arise from the use of reason. Insofar as Binmore develops one more such fable, Gaus argues that it doesn't quite scratch the itches that previous thinkers like Gauthier have found troubling.

Suggested Citation

  • Gerald Gaus & John Thrasher, 2022. "Philosophic Fables," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 39(2), pages 245-257, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:homoec:v:39:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s41412-022-00120-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s41412-022-00120-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s41412-022-00120-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s41412-022-00120-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:homoec:v:39:y:2022:i:2:d:10.1007_s41412-022-00120-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.