If he did not know, to a certain extent, what the consequences of a certain move would be, the game would be impossible; but it would also be impossible if this foresight extended indefinitely. Plato's definition of the philosopher as he who stands between knowing and not-knowing holds for man in general. The slightest consideration shows how every single step of our life is determined and rendered possible by the fact that we perceive its consequences, and likewise because we perceive them only up to a certain point, beyond which they become confused and finally escape our vision altogether.

DEFINE: Extends Plato's definition of the philosopher as one who stands between knowing and not-knowing to describe the human condition generally.

DEFINE: Uses chess analogy and Plato's philosopher definition to frame the human condition as standing between knowing and not-knowing.

Georg Simmel, on individuality and social…, loc. 785