technê do know something impressive (and often measurable), they convince themselves that they know more than they really do. Given the magnitude of the claims that O. makes for his book, the result reminds us of the wisdom of Socrates' assessment.To close with a passage from Aristotle, the greatest theoretician of practical reason of them all: in Nicomachean Ethics 1.3 he states that 'the same level of precision (to akribes) should not be sought in all rational accounts (logois)' (1094b12-3). Instead, 'it is characteristic of an educated person to seek precision in each genus to the extent that the nature of the subject being studied (hê tou pragmatos phusis) allows' (109b23-5). While it is entirely appropriate to expect clear and decisive proofsor decision trees and two-by-two matricesfrom 'a mathematician' (1094b26), it would be inapproriate to make such a demand in 'the study of politics' (politikê) whose subject matter is 'the fine (kala) and just things' (1094b14). Perhaps it is because Aristotle holds this view that O. devotes so few of his many pages to him.
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