Combining Philosophers

Ideas for Anaxarchus, Pierre Gassendi and Plato

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2 ideas

26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 1. Causation
There are two types of cause, the necessary and the divine [Plato]
     Full Idea: We must distinguish two types of cause, the necessary and the divine.
     From: Plato (Timaeus [c.349 BCE], 68e)
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 2. Types of cause
Fancy being unable to distinguish a cause from its necessary background conditions! [Plato]
     Full Idea: Fancy being unable to distinguish between the cause of a thing, and the condition without which it could not be a cause.
     From: Plato (Phaedo [c.382 BCE], 099c)
     A reaction: Not as simple as he thinks. It seems fairly easy to construct a case where the immediately impacting event remains constant, and the background condition is changed. Even worse when negligence is held to be the cause.