Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Anaxarchus, David Lewis and Crates (Theb)

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2 ideas

2. Reason / D. Definition / 1. Definitions
Interdefinition is useless by itself, but if we grasp one separately, we have them both [Lewis]
     Full Idea: All circles of interdefinition are useless by themselves. But if we reach one of the interdefined pair, then we have them both.
     From: David Lewis (Defining 'Intrinsic' (with Rae Langton) [1998], IV)
2. Reason / D. Definition / 2. Aims of Definition
Defining terms either enables elimination, or shows that they don't require elimination [Lewis]
     Full Idea: To define theoretical terms might be to show how to do without them, but it is better to say that it shows there is no good reason to want to do without them.
     From: David Lewis (How to Define Theoretical Terms [1970], Intro)