Re: The problems of religion and atheism

[Me]
Not necessarily. Other underlying motives why you might be pursuing knowledge, ostensibly for its own sake, might include:
>>
d) a belief that such knowledge would better enable you to understand God, or to carry out some good in the world.
<snip other possibilities>

Michael J Davis
As Gareth pointed out, none of the above are reasons for pursuing knowledge for its own sake!

Hmmm, yes I saw Gareth's post. Have to say I thought he was taking pedantry a bit too far on that occasion: If you take the absolute literal meaning, then probably noone has *ever* pursued knowledge purely for its own sake. Everyone who pursues knowledge has some underlying motive (possibly even a subconscious motive), even if it's only that they enjoy what they are doing and are acting to maximize their enjoyment. So ISTM when in casual conversation you say that someone is seeking knowledge for its own sake, what you normally mean is that they are pursuing knowledge, without any immediately obvious external requirement for the knowledge. That meaning is I think automatically and intuitively understood by most people, usually without a second thought. And that's the sense in which I took your remark and replied.

If you're really observant you might notice I carefully phrased my reply to take account of Gareth's objection by saying /ostensibly/ for it's own sake.

I'm going to stop now before I end up creating my own reputation for pedantry :-)

Simon
http://www.simonrobinson.com
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