Combining Philosophers

All the ideas for H.Putnam/P.Oppenheim, John Richardson and William Davies

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11 ideas

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 3. Metaphysical Systems
Metaphysics aims at the essence of things, and a system to show how this explains other truths [Richardson]
Metaphysics needs systems, because analysis just obsesses over details [Richardson]
Metaphysics generalises the data, to get at the ontology [Richardson]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / j. Explanations by reduction
Six reduction levels: groups, lives, cells, molecules, atoms, particles [Putnam/Oppenheim, by Watson]
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / a. Human distinctiveness
Humans dominate because, unlike other animals, they have a synthesis of conflicting drives [Richardson]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 11. Capitalism
Markets are transparent, with known prices and activity, and minimal profits [Davies,W]
Capitalists use their exceptional power to impose their own rules, and make the state their ally [Davies,W]
Economies have material, economic and capitalist layers [Davies,W]
Capitalism must mainly rely either on the labour market, or on the financial markets [Davies,W]
Capitalism is the anti-market, with opacity, monopolies, powers, exceptional profits and wealth [Davies,W]
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 7. Eliminating causation
A mind that could see cause and effect as a continuum would deny cause and effect [Richardson]