Reading "Europe: A History" by Norman Davies 
I came across a Greek quotation (p.115) 
which in a translation by Peter Jay says: -Everything's laughter, everything dust, everything nothing. 
Out of unreason comes everything that exists.-I find this quite an attractive philosophy. 
I may give up rationalism in favour of this. 
A sort of paradoxicalism?-Apparently these two lines of verse 
are all that is known of Glycon.-http://catalog.perseus.org/catalog/Mtlg0194Glyco-Anyone know any more?

--
GPJ

Reading "Europe: A History" by Norman Davies 
> I came across a Greek quotation (p.115) 
> which in a translation by Peter Jay says: 
> 
> Everything's laughter, everything dust, everything nothing. 
> Out of unreason comes everything that exists.
> 
> I find this quite an attractive philosophy. 
> I may give up rationalism in favour of this. 
> A sort of paradoxicalism?
> 
> Apparently these two lines of verse 
> are all that is known of Glycon.
> 
> http://catalog.perseus.org/catalog/Mtlg0194Glyco
> 
> Anyone know any more?-Yep.-I settled on the notion that I die not knowing so enjoy and get the next generation ready. We all do this in a way; so why do we fight over such things?


> George: Anyone know any more?-Wikipedia has a section about Glycon the snake god culture:-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycon

Errm Yes. 
But that's nothing to do with Glycon the poet! 
There are also pages on the internet about Glycon the chemical. 
All very interesting I'm sure, but hardly relevant. -I like the idea that any metaphysical conversation about 
a supposed origin of the universe, or whether something can come from nothing,
is all basically meaningless and can never be rationally resolved, 
because there is an irrational paradox involved.

--
GPJ

Errm Yes. 
> But that's nothing to do with Glycon the poet! 
> There are also pages on the internet about Glycon the chemical. 
> All very interesting I'm sure, but hardly relevant. 
> 
> I like the idea that any metaphysical conversation about 
> a supposed origin of the universe, or whether something can come from nothing,
> is all basically meaningless and can never be rationally resolved, 
> because there is an irrational paradox involved.-I always thought "paradox" as limits in our understanding. So I think of them as "human paradox's" not universal ones.

GEORGE: I like the idea that any metaphysical conversation about 
a supposed origin of the universe, or whether something can come from nothing,
is all basically meaningless and can never be rationally resolved, 
because there is an irrational paradox involved.-GK: I always thought "paradox" as limits in our understanding. So I think of them as "human paradox's" not universal ones.-Well, you're both right in my eyes. There has to be a valid answer, and we shall never know what it is. You can take that as a good argument in favour of agnosticism for those who don't feel the need to make a decision, and a good argument in favour of faith for those who do feel the need. Great ... we are all winners!