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Single Idea 3242
[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
]
Full Idea
Philosophy is the childhood of the intellect, and a culture that tries to skip it will never grow up.
Gist of Idea
Philosophy is the childhood of the intellect, and a culture can't skip it
Source
Thomas Nagel (The View from Nowhere [1986], Intro)
Book Ref
Nagel,Thomas: 'The View from Nowhere' [OUP 1989], p.12
A Reaction
Can he really mean that a mature culture doesn't need philosophy?
The
24 ideas
from 'The View from Nowhere'
3240
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There is more insight in fundamental perplexity about problems than in their supposed solutions
[Nagel]
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3242
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Philosophy is the childhood of the intellect, and a culture can't skip it
[Nagel]
|
3241
|
It seems mad, but the aim of philosophy is to climb outside of our own minds
[Nagel]
|
22429
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We achieve objectivity by dropping secondary qualities, to focus on structural primary qualities
[Nagel]
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3244
|
Personal identity cannot be fully known a priori
[Nagel]
|
3245
|
The question of whether a future experience will be mine presupposes personal identity
[Nagel]
|
3246
|
I can't even conceive of my brain being split in two
[Nagel]
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20989
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Views are objective if they don't rely on a person's character, social position or species
[Nagel]
|
22354
|
Things cause perceptions, properties have other effects, hence we reach a 'view from nowhere'
[Nagel, by Reiss/Sprenger]
|
3248
|
Realism invites scepticism because it claims to be objective
[Nagel]
|
3247
|
Epistemology is centrally about what we should believe, not the definition of knowledge
[Nagel]
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3249
|
Modern science depends on the distinction between primary and secondary qualities
[Nagel]
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3251
|
Observed regularities are only predictable if we assume hidden necessity
[Nagel]
|
3252
|
Scepticism is based on ideas which scepticism makes impossible
[Nagel]
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3255
|
We find new motives by discovering reasons for action different from our preexisting motives
[Nagel]
|
3254
|
If we can decide how to live after stepping outside of ourselves, we have the basis of a moral theory
[Nagel]
|
3257
|
Total objectivity can't see value, but it sees many people with values
[Nagel]
|
3256
|
Pain doesn't have a further property of badness; it gives a reason for its avoidance
[Nagel]
|
3258
|
If cockroaches can't think about their actions, they have no duties
[Nagel]
|
3261
|
Something may be 'rational' either because it is required or because it is acceptable
[Nagel]
|
3262
|
Utilitarianism is too demanding
[Nagel]
|
3264
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We should see others' viewpoints, but not lose touch with our own values
[Nagel]
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3263
|
If our own life lacks meaning, devotion to others won't give it meaning
[Nagel]
|
3265
|
We don't worry about the time before we were born the way we worry about death
[Nagel]
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