Open Society condensed Chapter 11 Essentialism
“The problem of definitions and of the ‘meaning of terms’ does not directly bear upon historicism. But it has been an inexhaustible source of confusion”.
The second section of Chapter 11 is a detailed critique of the obsession with the definition of terms and the explication of concepts that Popper labeled essentialism.
Like timid seducers, essentialists are rarely found inside the bedroom when there is serious work to be done on social and political problems.
People who habitually address social issues with an imaginative and critical attitude to alternative policies and their likely outcomes will not benefit much from the following critique of verbalism and conceptual analysis. However they may have friends or relations who have picked up bad habits, perhaps at university, and they may need professional help. Read more »
Let’s get a bit serious
In order to lift the intellectual tone of this site above the pedestrian and humdrum, I am introducing a series of interviews with major thinkers, conducted by Harry Mackenzie, the little known brother of Barry (Bazza) Mackenzie.
As we speak, Mr Mackenzie is seeking suitable candidates for interview, both live and dead. The series is expected to include Plato, Wittgenstein, Sartre, Ron Barassi and Jack Gibson (a rugby league coach, not related to Mel).
For an introduction to Harry Mackenzie and the series, this is a link to a rather old interview that Mr Mackenzie conducted with a (then) living treasure of liberalism.
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