Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Lynch,MP/Glasgow,JM, Mulligan/Simons/Smith and Epicurus

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6 ideas

13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism
Epicurus denied knowledge in order to retain morality or hedonism as the highest values [Nietzsche on Epicurus]
     Full Idea: Epicurus denied the possibility of knowledge in order to retain moral (or hedonistic) values as the highest values.
     From: comment on Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by Friedrich Nietzsche - The Will to Power (notebooks) §578
     A reaction: The history of philosophy suggests that this dichotomy is unnecessary. Dogmatist place a high value on multitudes of things.
13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 3. Illusion Scepticism
Epicurus says if one of a man's senses ever lies, none of his senses should ever be believed [Epicurus, by Cicero]
     Full Idea: Epicurus says that if one sense has told a lie once in a man's life, no sense must ever be believed.
     From: report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by M. Tullius Cicero - Academica II.25.79
Illusions are not false perceptions, as we accurately perceive the pattern of atoms [Epicurus, by Modrak]
     Full Idea: Epicurus says illusions are not false perceptions, because the senses accurately report the pattern of atoms; for instance, the edges are worn off the pattern produced by a square tower, so its perception as a round tower is true.
     From: report of Epicurus (Letter to Herodotus [c.293 BCE], 47-53) by Deborah K.W. Modrak - Classical theories of Mind
     A reaction: As so often, Epicurus got it right, because Democritus got it right, thus demonstrating that good philosophy must be preceded by good physics. However, good physics must be preceded and followed by good philosophy.
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 1. Relativism
When entering a dark room it is colourless, but colour gradually appears [Epicurus]
     Full Idea: On entering a dark room we see no colour, but do so after waiting a short time.
     From: Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]), quoted by Plutarch - 74: Reply to Colotes 1110d
If two people disagree over taste, who is right? [Epicurus, by Plutarch]
     Full Idea: If one person says the wine is dry and the other that it is sweet, and neither errs in his sensation, how is the wine any more dry than sweet?
     From: report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by Plutarch - 74: Reply to Colotes 1109b
Bath water is too hot for some, too cold for others [Epicurus, by Plutarch]
     Full Idea: In the very same bath some treat the water as too hot, others as too cold.
     From: report of Epicurus (fragments/reports [c.289 BCE]) by Plutarch - 74: Reply to Colotes 1109b