31 ideas
7823 | Lucretius was rediscovered in 1417 [Grayling] |
13737 | The empiricist says that metaphysics is meaningless, rather than false [Schlick] |
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] |
7621 | Special relativity, unlike general relativity, was operationalist in spirit [Putnam on Einstein] |
7091 | The argument from analogy is not a strong inference, since the other being might be an actor or a robot [Grayling] |
7293 | It is legitimate to do harm if it is the unintended side-effect of an effort to achieve a good [Grayling] |
7809 | In an honour code shame is the supreme punishment, and revenge is a duty [Grayling] |
23262 | Experience, sympathy and history are sensible grounds for laying claim to rights [Grayling] |
23263 | Politics is driven by power cliques [Grayling] |
23255 | It is essential for democracy that voting is free and well informed [Grayling] |
23254 | Democracies should require a supermajority for major questions [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] |
22955 | Einstein took causation to be the bedrock of physics [Einstein, by Coveney/Highfield] |
20638 | General relativity assumes laws of nature are the same in all frames of reference [Einstein, by Close] |
20636 | Newton is a special case of Einstein's general theory, with an infinite speed of light [Einstein, by Close] |
21230 | The theory is 'special' because it sticks to observers moving straight, at constant speeds [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
21231 | Assume the speed of light is constant for all observers, and the laws of physics are the same [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
20634 | General Relativity says there is no absolute force or acceleration [Einstein, by Close] |
20648 | Mass is a measure of energy content [Einstein] |
21232 | Space-time arises from the connection between measurements of space and of time [Einstein, by Farmelo] |
7626 | I do not believe in a personal God [Einstein] |
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] |