I think the key idea behind civilization, and indeed all progress, is that there is something out there that represents the truth. It exists independently of us. We cannot simply make it up.

wretchard, I’m VERY surprised to see this from you.

I think the orthodox position on such metaphysical matters is that there may indeed be a truth out there, but absolute access to it is forever beyond us, or at least beyond proof. This is not just modern litcrit or pomo, this is Kant and Plato.

The history of western thought is a big wheel that turns from acceptance to rejection of this idea. Science is operationalist, secular. But cold. The wheel turns, we have a new romantic age, a new age of faith. But charlatans galore flourish in such an age, and the wheel turns again, and we believe only what can be coldly proved.

Spinning wheel, got to go ’round.