Quote by Werner Erhard

The result of what Kennedy did can be understood by analogy. It is as if he created a building named, 'A man on the moon in ten years,' and inside the building he put offices for all the various ideas, positions, notions and people that had to do with space flight. The first office inside the front door of the building in 1961 would have been called, 'it can't be done.' This office would have been inhabited by the skeptics and the cynics.A content or position is threatened by any opposite position. Given two opposing positions, only one can survive. On the other hand, a context gives space to, it literally allows, it even encourages, positions that are apparently the opposite. In fact, the most important position in a newly-created context is the position which appears to oppose the context.


The result of what Kennedy did can be understood by analogy.

Summary

This quote emphasizes the significance of creating a context for new ideas and progress. It compares the actions of Kennedy, specifically his goal to send a man to the moon within a decade, to building a metaphorical structure. The building represents a space for various ideas and perspectives related to space exploration. By providing this context, Kennedy effectively challenged the skeptics and cynics who believed space travel was impossible. This quote highlights the importance of allowing opposing positions within a created context, suggesting that these differing viewpoints can contribute to the overall success and advancement of a particular goal or idea.

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Goals
By Werner Erhard
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