Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Alistair Mitchell, Robert Fogelin and Anand Vaidya

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2 ideas

18. Thought / A. Modes of Thought / 5. Rationality / b. Human rationality
We are also irrational, with a unique ability to believe in bizarre self-created fictions [Fogelin]
     Full Idea: We as human beings are also irrational animals, unique among animals in our capacity to place faith in bizarre fictions of our own construction.
     From: Robert Fogelin (Walking the Tightrope of Reason [2003], Intro)
     A reaction: This is glaringly true, and a very nice corrective to the talk of Greeks and others about man as the 'rational animal'. From a distance we might be described by Martians as the 'mad animal'. Is the irrational current too strong to swim against?
18. Thought / C. Content / 1. Content
Aboutness is always intended, and cannot be accidental [Vaidya]
     Full Idea: A representation cannot accidentally be about an object. Aboutness is in general an intentional relation.
     From: Anand Vaidya (Understanding and Essence [2010], 'Objections')
     A reaction: 'Intentional' with a 't', not with an 's'. This strikes me as important. Critics dislike the idea of 'representation' because if you passively place a representation and its subject together, what makes the image do the representing job? Answer: I do!