Combining Philosophers

All the ideas for Anaxarchus, Anon (Gilg) and Friedrich Jacobi

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4 ideas

13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism

3061	Anaxarchus said that he was not even sure that he knew nothing [Anaxarchus, by Diog. Laertius]
	Full Idea: Anaxarchus said that he was not even sure that he knew nothing.
	From: report of Anaxarchus (fragments/reports [c.340 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 09.10.1

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / g. Contemplation

7071	Life and rationality are pointless if we can only contemplate the freedom of our own ego [Jacobi]
	Full Idea: If the highest upon which I can reflect, what I can contemplate, is my empty and pure, naked and mere ego, with its autonomy and freedom: then rational self-contemplation, then rationality is for me a curse - I deplore my existence.
	From: Friedrich Jacobi (Letters to Fichte [1799], Ch.2), quoted by Simon Critchley - Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro
	A reaction: This is a rebellion against Fichte's interpretation of Kant. It is a lovely cry from the heart on behalf of everyone who resents lines of philosophical thinking that seem to imprison the mind and cut us off from the ordinary world and real life.

23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 2. Nihilism

7072	Jacobi was the first philosopher to talk of nihilism [Jacobi, by Critchley]
	Full Idea: Jacobi was the first to philosophically employ the concept of nihilism.
	From: report of Friedrich Jacobi (Letters to Fichte [1799]) by Simon Critchley - Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro Ch.2
	A reaction: Critchley explains that it was Jacobi's fear that Fichte was drawing nihilist conclusions from Kant's philosophy. This fear may be seen as the beginning of what is loosely called 'continental philosophy'. A worthy subject for thinkers...

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 5. Infinite in Nature

8659	The gods alone live forever with Shamash. The days of humans are numbered. [Anon (Gilg)]
	Full Idea: The gods alone are the ones who live forever with Shamash. / As for humans, their days are numbered.
	From: Anon (Gilg) (The Epic of Gilgamesh [c.2300 BCE], 3.2.34), quoted by Michèle Friend - Introducing the Philosophy of Mathematics 1.2
	A reaction: Friend quotes this to show the antiquity of the concept of infinity. It also, of course, shows that Sumerians at that time did not believe in human immortality.