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Single Idea 18231

[filed under theme 23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / g. Contemplation ]

Full Idea

When Anaxagoras was asked what it was for which a person would choose to be born rather than not, he said it would be to apprehend the heavens and the order in the whole universe.

Gist of Idea

Anaxagoras said a person would choose to be born to contemplate the ordered heavens

Source

Anaxagoras (fragments/reports [c.460 BCE], 1216), quoted by Aristotle - Eudemian Ethics 8 'Finality'

Book Ref

Korsgaard,Christine M.: 'Creating the Kingdom of Ends' [CUP 1996], p.232

A Reaction

[Anaxagoras, quoted by Aristotle, quoted by Korsgaard, quoted by me, and then quoted by you, perhaps]

Related Idea

Idea 18239 What is contemplated must have a higher value than contemplation [Kant, by Korsgaard]

The 23 ideas from 'fragments/reports'

21822 Anaxagoras's concept of supreme Mind has a simple First and a multiple One [Anaxagoras, by Plotinus]
17995 Basic is the potentially perceptible, then comes the contrary qualities, and finally the 'elements' [Anaxagoras]
20802 Snow is not white, and doesn't even appear white, because it is made of black water [Anaxagoras, by Cicero]
22761 We reveal unreliability in the senses when we cannot discriminate a slow change of colour [Anaxagoras, by Sext.Empiricus]
13784 Mind is self-ruling, pure, ordering and ubiquitous [Anaxagoras, by Plato]
5118 Anaxagoras says mind remains pure, and so is not affected by what it changes [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
2629 Anaxagoras was the first to say that the universe is directed by an intelligence [Anaxagoras, by Cicero]
7488 Anaxagoras was the first recorded atheist [Anaxagoras, by Watson]
631 For Anaxagoras the Good Mind has no opposite, and causes all movement, for a higher reason [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
22727 Mind creates the world from a mixture of pure substances [Anaxagoras, by ]
550 Anaxagoras said that the number of principles was infinite [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
21383 The ultimate constituents of reality are the homoeomeries [Anaxagoras, by Vlastos]
13208 Anaxagoreans regard the homoeomeries as elements, which compose earth, air, fire and water [Anaxagoras, by Aristotle]
367 Anaxagoras says mind produces order and causes everything [Anaxagoras, by Plato]
22726 When things were unified, Mind set them in order [Anaxagoras]
5956 Anaxagoras was charged with impiety for calling the sun a lump of stone [Anaxagoras, by Plutarch]
18231 Anaxagoras said a person would choose to be born to contemplate the ordered heavens [Anaxagoras]
21382 Things get smaller without end [Anaxagoras]
21381 Germs contain microscopic organs, which become visible as they grow [Anaxagoras]
13256 Nous is unlimited, self-ruling and pure; it is the finest thing, with great discernment and strength [Anaxagoras]
480 Past, present and future, and the movements of the heavens, were arranged by Mind [Anaxagoras]
481 Nothing is created or destroyed; there is only mixing and separation [Anaxagoras]
13257 The senses are too feeble to determine the truth [Anaxagoras]