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Single Idea 1643
[filed under theme 7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / e. Being and nothing
]
Full Idea
When the question was put to us as to the name of 'that which is not', to whatever one must apply it, we got stuck in every kind of perplexity. Are we now in any less perplexity about 'that which is'?
Gist of Idea
If statements about non-existence are logically puzzling, so are statements about existence
Source
Plato (The Sophist [c.359 BCE], 250d)
Book Ref
Plato: 'The Sophist', ed/tr. Bernadete,Seth [University of Chicago 1986], p.45
A Reaction
Nice. This precapitulates the whole story of modern philosophy of language. What started as a nagging doubt about reference to non-existents ends as bewilderment about everything we say.
The
16 ideas
from 'The Sophist'
1636
|
Wickedness is an illness of the soul
[Plato]
|
1637
|
A soul without understanding is ugly
[Plato]
|
1638
|
Didactic education is hard work and achieves little
[Plato]
|
20478
|
In discussion a person's opinions are shown to be in conflict, leading to calm self-criticism
[Plato]
|
11278
|
What does 'that which is not' refer to?
[Plato]
|
1641
|
Some alarming thinkers think that only things which you can touch exist
[Plato]
|
7022
|
To be is to have a capacity, to act on other things, or to receive actions
[Plato]
|
1642
|
We must fight fiercely for knowledge, understanding and intelligence
[Plato]
|
1643
|
If statements about non-existence are logically puzzling, so are statements about existence
[Plato]
|
287
|
Good analysis involves dividing things into appropriate forms without confusion
[Plato]
|
16122
|
Good thinkers spot forms spread through things, or included within some larger form
[Plato]
|
1644
|
Dialectic should only be taught to those who already philosophise well
[Plato]
|
10422
|
The not-beautiful is part of the beautiful, though opposed to it, and is just as real
[Plato]
|
15855
|
If we see everything as separate, we can then give no account of it
[Plato]
|
1645
|
The desire to split everything into its parts is unpleasant and unphilosophical
[Plato]
|
10784
|
Whenever there's speech it has to be about something
[Plato]
|