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Single Idea 6438
[filed under theme 7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 6. Fundamentals / d. Logical atoms
]
Full Idea
I have come to think that, although many things can be known to be complex, nothing can be known to be simple.
Gist of Idea
Complex things can be known, but not simple things
Source
Bertrand Russell (My Philosophical Development [1959], Ch.14)
Book Ref
Russell,Bertrand: 'My Philosophical Development' [Routledge 1993], p.123
A Reaction
This appears to be a rejection of his logical atomism. It goes with a general rebellion against foundationalist epistemology, because the empiricists foundations (e.g. Hume's impressions) seem devoid of all content.
The
23 ideas
from 'My Philosophical Development'
6420
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Only by analysing is progress possible in philosophy
[Russell]
|
6419
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In 1899-1900 I adopted the philosophy of logical atomism
[Russell]
|
6426
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Intuitionism says propositions are only true or false if there is a method of showing it
[Russell]
|
7528
|
Leibniz bases everything on subject/predicate and substance/property propositions
[Russell]
|
6423
|
We tried to define all of pure maths using logical premisses and concepts
[Russell]
|
6425
|
Formalism can't apply numbers to reality, so it is an evasion
[Russell]
|
6424
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Formalists say maths is merely conventional marks on paper, like the arbitrary rules of chess
[Russell]
|
6427
|
Unverifiable propositions about the remote past are still either true or false
[Russell]
|
6431
|
Empiricists seem unclear what they mean by 'experience'
[Russell]
|
6432
|
Analysis gives new knowledge, without destroying what we already have
[Russell]
|
6430
|
In epistemology we should emphasis the continuity between animal and human minds
[Russell]
|
6434
|
Facts are everything, except simples; they are either relations or qualities
[Russell]
|
6433
|
Behaviourists struggle to explain memory and imagination, because they won't admit images
[Russell]
|
6435
|
You can believe the meaning of a sentence without thinking of the words
[Russell]
|
6440
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Universals can't just be words, because words themselves are universals
[Russell]
|
6436
|
I gradually replaced classes with properties, and they ended as a symbolic convenience
[Russell]
|
6438
|
Complex things can be known, but not simple things
[Russell]
|
6437
|
The theory of types makes 'Socrates and killing are two' illegitimate
[Russell]
|
6439
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Names are meaningless unless there is an object which they designate
[Russell]
|
6442
|
Truth belongs to beliefs, not to propositions and sentences
[Russell]
|
6441
|
Pragmatism judges by effects, but I judge truth by causes
[Russell]
|
6443
|
Surprise is a criterion of error
[Russell]
|
6444
|
True belief about the time is not knowledge if I luckily observe a stopped clock at the right moment
[Russell]
|