We Humanists know that good moral reasoning requires accurate knowledge of the problems we are attempting to solve. Yet, despite our best efforts, our knowledge will always be lacking. Our knowledge of the universe will probably never be complete. Our knowledge of human nature will also probably never be complete. But that doesn’t matter. To live productively we must learn how to balance our quest for knowledge against the needs of the present. Which is why one of my favorite quotes is:
”The only obligation which I have a right to assume is to do at any time what I think right.” - Henry David Thoreau.
The quest for knowledge is not only fun, it’s necessary to good moral reasoning. But at some point you have to decide to do the best you can with the knowledge you have at your disposal now. Because if you chose to wait until your knowledge is complete, you will be waiting a very long time and may just find that you will have wasted the present.
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