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Single Idea 21575
[filed under theme 8. Modes of Existence / B. Properties / 11. Properties as Sets
]
Full Idea
When a group of objects have the similarity we are inclined to attribute to possession of a common quality, the membership of the group will serve all the purposes of the supposed common quality ...which need not be assumed to exist.
Gist of Idea
When we attribute a common quality to a group, we can forget the quality and just talk of the group
Source
Bertrand Russell (Our Knowledge of the External World [1914], 2)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'Our Knowledge of the External World' [Routledge 1993], p.51
A Reaction
This is the earliest account I have found of properties being treated as sets of objects. It more or less coincides with the invention of set theory. I am reminded of Idea 9208. What is the bazzing property? It's what those three things have in common.
Related Idea
Idea 9208
Philosophers with a new concept are like children with a new toy [Fine,K]
The
21 ideas
from 'Our Knowledge of the External World'
21571
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Philosophical systems are interesting, but we now need a more objective scientific philosophy
[Russell]
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21572
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Philosophical disputes are mostly hopeless, because philosophers don't understand each other
[Russell]
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21573
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When problems are analysed properly, they are either logical, or not philosophical at all
[Russell]
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21576
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With asymmetrical relations (before/after) the reduction to properties is impossible
[Russell]
|
21575
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When we attribute a common quality to a group, we can forget the quality and just talk of the group
[Russell]
|
21577
|
Empirical truths are particular, so general truths need an a priori input of generality
[Russell]
|
21574
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Hegel's confusions over 'is' show how vast systems can be built on simple errors
[Russell]
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21579
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Objects are treated as real when they connect with other experiences in a normal way
[Russell]
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21578
|
Global scepticism is irrefutable, but can't replace our other beliefs, and just makes us hesitate
[Russell]
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6416
|
Other minds seem to exist, because their testimony supports realism about the world
[Russell, by Grayling]
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21581
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We never experience times, but only succession of events
[Russell]
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21580
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Science condemns sense-data and accepts matter, but a logical construction must link them
[Russell]
|
21582
|
Physicists accept particles, points and instants, while pretending they don't do metaphysics
[Russell]
|
21583
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When sense-data change, there must be indistinguishable sense-data in the process
[Russell]
|
21584
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A sense of timelessness is essential to wisdom
[Russell]
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21585
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The tortoise won't win, because infinite instants don't compose an infinitely long time
[Russell]
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21586
|
The logical connectives are not objects, but are formal, and need a context
[Russell]
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21588
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Logic gives the method of research in philosophy
[Russell]
|
21587
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Philosophers sometimes neglect truth and distort facts to attain a nice system
[Russell]
|
21684
|
Atomic facts may be inferrable from others, but never from non-atomic facts
[Russell]
|
22316
|
A positive and negative fact have the same constituents; their difference is primitive
[Russell]
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