Unthinkable

Impensable

Henri Galinon (1, 2)

1 PHIER - Laboratoire Philosophies et Rationalités
2 UCA - Université Clermont Auvergne

This short entry written for the "Abécédaire de la connaissance sensible" explores the concept of the unthinkable. It begins by defining 'unthinkable' as a form of intellectual silence encountered in the face of certain realities or concepts that challenge our understanding. The text distinguishes between different types of 'unthinkable' experiences: Personal and Temporal Unthinkables: These are initially incomprehensible ideas or events specific to an individual and a particular time. For example, the first time one contemplates questions like "Why is there something rather than nothing?", the mind struggles to comprehend or even formulate a response. Over time, however, what was once unthinkable becomes thinkable through collective human effort and the advancement of knowledge. There are yet events or contradictions in history that appear to be unthinkable to the whole human community, often taking the form of paradoxes or fundamental challenges to our existing beliefs. For instance, the contradiction revealed by Bertrand Russell in naïve set theory, or the events of September 11, 2001, and the Holocaust, which introduced fundamental contradictions in our belief systems. The subsequent intellectual developments highlight the resilience of the human spirit in confronting and eventually integrating such challenging encounters into our understanding. Further, the text examines the concept of the absolute unthinkable, exploring the limits of human thought and the possibility of realities that are inherently beyond our cognitive capabilities. It discusses the philosophical and theological implications of these limits, drawing on examples from Platonism, Christian theology, and modern scientific inquiries like cosmology and quantum physics. The discussion highlights how our understanding of the unthinkable is shaped by our understanding of our methods of thinking. In conclusion, the text suggests that while human thought is historically and methodologically limited, our understanding of these limits and the nature of the unthinkable is continually evolving. This ongoing exploration reflects the dynamic nature of human knowledge and our enduring quest to understand the world and our place in it.

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société; Philosophie

Henri Galinon. Impensable. 2023. ⟨hal-04292478⟩