33 ideas
12036 | Xenophanes began the concern with knowledge [Annas] |
12046 | Plato was the first philosopher who was concerned to systematize his ideas [Annas] |
7823 | Lucretius was rediscovered in 1417 [Grayling] |
6408 | Russell needed three extra axioms to reduce maths to logic: infinity, choice and reducibility [Grayling] |
6414 | Two propositions might seem self-evident, but contradict one another [Grayling] |
3061 | Anaxarchus said that he was not even sure that he knew nothing [Anaxarchus, by Diog. Laertius] |
7091 | The argument from analogy is not a strong inference, since the other being might be an actor or a robot [Grayling] |
3546 | 'Phronesis' should translate as 'practical intelligence', not as prudence [Annas] |
7293 | It is legitimate to do harm if it is the unintended side-effect of an effort to achieve a good [Grayling] |
12037 | Euripides's Medea is a key case of reason versus the passions [Annas] |
3547 | Epicureans achieve pleasure through character development [Annas] |
3543 | Cyrenaics pursue pleasure, but don't equate it with happiness [Annas] |
12040 | Virtue is a kind of understanding of moral value [Annas] |
3541 | Ancient ethics uses attractive notions, not imperatives [Annas] |
7809 | In an honour code shame is the supreme punishment, and revenge is a duty [Grayling] |
3550 | Principles cover life as a whole, where rules just cover actions [Annas] |
3551 | Virtue theory tries to explain our duties in terms of our character [Annas] |
3552 | If excessively good actions are admirable but not required, then duty isn't basic [Annas] |
3542 | We should do good when necessary, not maximise it [Annas] |
23262 | Experience, sympathy and history are sensible grounds for laying claim to rights [Grayling] |
23263 | Politics is driven by power cliques [Grayling] |
23254 | Democracies should require a supermajority for major questions [Grayling] |
23255 | It is essential for democracy that voting is free and well informed [Grayling] |
23260 | A cap on time of service would restrict party control and career ambitions [Grayling] |
23253 | Majority decisions are only acceptable if the minority interests are not vital [Grayling] |
23256 | Liberty and equality cannot be reconciled [Grayling] |
23258 | The very concept of democracy entails a need for justice [Grayling] |
23259 | There should be separate legislative, executive and judicial institutions [Grayling] |
7292 | War must also have a good chance of success, and be waged with moderation [Grayling] |
7824 | If suicide is lawful, but assisting suicide is unlawful, powerless people are denied their rights [Grayling] |
7819 | Religion gives answers, comforts, creates social order, and panders to superstition [Grayling] |
7817 | To make an afterlife appealing, this life has to be denigrated [Grayling] |
7818 | In Greek mythology only heroes can go to heaven [Grayling] |