SFX: open ocean

Descartes: I must remove every piece of this shoddy driftwood raft which can be pulled out, until I come to something which refuses to let itself be removed. When I get to that, I’ll know we’ve reached the proper foundation to rebuild from.

Neurath: Rene, are you *trying* to kill us? Back me up here, Kant.

Kant: Otto, we must use a systematic approach. If I can deduce the principles which this raft must seem to follow, as the processes of transcendental logic may allow, then it will not matter what the raft may be in itself, as I will have deduced the essential foundations of the driftwood as it appears. My object is to give this ship a pilot, who, by means of safe astronomical principles drawn from a knowledge of the globe, and provided with a complete chart and compass, may steer the ship safely.

Descartes: Eureka! That piece of driftwood floating near is so perfectly smooth and thick and sturdy, I cannot doubt that it is the proper foundation of all flotation. I don't need this fallible raft anymore!

SFX: dives in 

Neurath: Watch out for the shark, Descartes!

SFX: after some swimming and screaming, a shark burps

Neurath: Good riddance to the metaphysician. Ah, the pieces of the wood are floating over.

Kant: What do you intend to do with that, Neurath, considering there is as yet no system of raft repair? My object is to persuade all those who think raft repair worth studying, that it is absolutely necessary to pause a moment and to propose first the preliminary question, 'Whether such a thing as raft repair be at all possible?'

Neurath: What I intend to do is replace a couple of rotted pieces with these more solid pieces, in order that we may stay afloat. Each piece must be judged for how it serves the totality of our raft, and we can rebuild safely without ever starting over.

SFX: wood sounds as he fixes a hole and raft floats on