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Single Idea 5043
[filed under theme 27. Natural Reality / G. Biology / 2. Life
]
Full Idea
It seems to me that the opinion of those who transform or degrade the lower animals into mere machines, although it seems possible, is improbable, and even against the order of things.
Gist of Idea
To regard animals as mere machines may be possible, but seems improbable
Source
Gottfried Leibniz (New System and Explanation of New System [1696], p.116)
Book Ref
Leibniz,Gottfried: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Parkinson,G.H.R. [Dent 1973], p.116
A Reaction
His target is Descartes. 'Against the order of things' seems to beg the question. What IS the order of things? Only a thorough-going dualist would worry about this question, and that isn't me.
The
21 ideas
with the same theme
[what distinguishes life, and its value]:
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24063
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What is born has growth, a prime, and a withering away
[Aristotle]
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23302
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Plants have far less life than animals, but more life than other corporeal entities
[Aristotle]
|
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7280
|
As all life is one, what need is there for words?
[Zhuangzi (Chuang Tzu)]
|
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5043
|
To regard animals as mere machines may be possible, but seems improbable
[Leibniz]
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24122
|
Life is forces conjoined by nutrition, to produce resistance, arrangement and value
[Nietzsche]
|
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4877
|
Maybe plants are very slow (and sentient) animals, overlooked because we are faster?
[Dennett]
|
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17567
|
A flame is like a life, but not nearly so well individuated
[Inwagen]
|
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17570
|
The chemical reactions in a human life involve about sixteen elements
[Inwagen]
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17568
|
A tumour may spread a sort of life, but it is not a life, or an organism
[Inwagen]
|
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17569
|
Unlike waves, lives are 'jealous'; it is almost impossible for them to overlap
[Inwagen]
|
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17576
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If God were to 'reassemble' my atoms of ten years ago, the result would certainly not be me
[Inwagen]
|
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17580
|
One's mental and other life is centred on the brain, unlike any other part of the body
[Inwagen]
|
|
17581
|
Being part of an organism's life is a matter of degree, and vague
[Inwagen]
|
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17585
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Life is vague at both ends, but could it be totally vague?
[Inwagen]
|
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17586
|
At the lower level, life trails off into mere molecular interaction
[Inwagen]
|
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17584
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Some events are only borderline cases of lives
[Inwagen]
|
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9324
|
From the teleopragmatic perspective, life is largely an informational process
[Gulick]
|
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7516
|
In 1828, the stuff of life was shown to be ordinary chemistry, not a magic gel
[Pinker]
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20652
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In 1828 the animal substance urea was manufactured from inorganic ingredients
[Watson]
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20658
|
Information is physical, and living can be seen as replicating and preserving information
[Watson]
|
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6126
|
Life is Movement, Respiration, Sensation, Nutrition, Excretion, Reproduction, Growth (MRS NERG)
[PG]
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