Meditations on A Strand of Hair

If I may use a hair analogy, we live at the root of a fiber of human hair. Any cross section of this hair that you examine is incredibly thin - likewise, the cross section of any given moment in history is a thin sliver of common opinions. Many of these cross sections may look similar, but they are each slightly different. They are made of the same material (protein, or unfounded opinion). Each cross section transitions seamlessly into the next. Subsequent cross sections resemble the surrounding cross sections more than they resemble cross sections far removed from themselves.

What relation does the project of philosophy have to this human hair? Very seldom does the project of philosophy affect the cross sections directly following the cross section in which it is practiced. The cross sections far in advance it affects greatly. In a certain sense, the cross sections far behind are also greatly affected by it.

Can you cut this hair? Yes. But you cannot prevent the previous cross section from yielding the next.