Combining Philosophers

All the ideas for Lord Kelvin (Wm Thomson), M.R. Ayers and Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)

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32 ideas

1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom
7278 Words of wisdom are precise and clear [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy
7281 Don't even start, let's just stay put [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic
7282 Disagreement means you do not understand at all [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 3. Eristic
7284 If you beat me in argument, does that mean you are right? [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / d. Counting via concepts
17518 Counting 'coin in this box' may have coin as the unit, with 'in this box' merely as the scope [Ayers]
17516 If counting needs a sortal, what of things which fall under two sortals? [Ayers]
7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 4. Events / a. Nature of events
17520 Events do not have natural boundaries, and we have to set them [Ayers]
9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / a. Individuation
17519 To express borderline cases of objects, you need the concept of an 'object' [Ayers]
9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / e. Individuation by kind
17510 Speakers need the very general category of a thing, if they are to think about it [Ayers]
17522 We use sortals to classify physical objects by the nature and origin of their unity [Ayers]
17515 Seeing caterpillar and moth as the same needs continuity, not identity of sortal concepts [Ayers]
17511 Recognising continuity is separate from sortals, and must precede their use [Ayers]
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 1. Unifying an Object / a. Intrinsic unification
17517 Could the same matter have more than one form or principle of unity? [Ayers]
9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 3. Unity Problems / c. Statue and clay
17513 If there are two objects, then 'that marble, man-shaped object' is ambiguous [Ayers]
9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 5. Essence as Kind
17523 Sortals basically apply to individuals [Ayers]
9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 5. Temporal Parts
17521 You can't have the concept of a 'stage' if you lack the concept of an object [Ayers]
17514 Temporal 'parts' cannot be separated or rearranged [Ayers]
9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 1. Concept of Identity
17509 Some say a 'covering concept' completes identity; others place the concept in the reference [Ayers]
9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 3. Relative Identity
17512 If diachronic identities need covering concepts, why not synchronic identities too? [Ayers]
11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 1. Knowledge
7289 Do not try to do things, or to master knowledge; just be empty [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 5. Dream Scepticism
23403 You know you were dreaming when you wake, but there might then be a greater awakening from that [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
7285 Did Chuang Tzu dream he was a butterfly, or a butterfly dream he was Chuang Tzu? [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 1. Scientific Theory
22363 You have only begun to do real science when you can express it in numbers [Kelvin]
16. Persons / E. Rejecting the Self / 4. Denial of the Self
7277 The perfect man has no self [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
7286 To see with true clarity, your self must be irrelevant [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 10. Denial of Meanings
7279 If words can't be defined, they may just be the chirruping of chicks [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
19. Language / D. Propositions / 4. Mental Propositions
23404 Words are for meaning, and once you have that you can forget the words [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / d. Courage
7283 Great courage is not violent [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / a. Energy
20644 Energy has progressed from a mere formula, to a principle pervading all nature [Kelvin]
27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 2. Life
7280 As all life is one, what need is there for words? [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
29. Religion / C. Spiritual Disciplines / 2. Taoism
7288 Go with the flow, and be one with the void of Heaven [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
7287 Fish forget about each other in the pond and forget each other in the Tao [Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]