Ideas from 'Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments' by Anon (Diss) [401 BCE], by Theme Structure

[found in 'The First Philosophers' (ed/tr Waterfield,Robin) [OUP 2000,0-19-282454-6]].

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3. Truth / H. Deflationary Truth / 2. Deflationary Truth
True and false statements can use exactly the same words
                        Full Idea: There is no difference between a true statement and a false statement, because they can use exactly the same words.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §4)
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 4. Cultural relativism
Anything can be acceptable in some circumstances and unacceptable in others
                        Full Idea: Anything can be acceptable under the right circumstances, and unacceptable under the wrong circumstances.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §2)
Thracians think tattooing adds to a girl's beauty, but elsewhere it is a punishment
                        Full Idea: Thracians think that tattooing enhances a girl's beauty, whereas for everyone else tattooing is a punishment for a crime.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §2)
Lydians prostitute their daughters to raise a dowery, but no Greek would marry such a girl
                        Full Idea: The Lydians find it acceptable for their daughters to work as prostitutes to raise money for getting married, but no one in Greece would be prepared to marry such a girl.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §2)
20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 3. Acting on Reason / b. Intellectualism
How could someone who knows everything fail to act correctly?
                        Full Idea: If someone knows the nature of everything, how could he fail to be able also to act correctly in every case?
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §8)
22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / j. Ethics by convention
Every apparent crime can be right in certain circumstances
                        Full Idea: It can be right, in certain circumstances, to steal, to break a solemn promise, to rob temples, and even (as Orestes did) to murder one's nearest and dearest.
                        From: report of Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §3) by PG - Db (ideas)
                        A reaction: Not sure about the last one! I suppose you can justify any hideousness if the fate of the universe depends on it. It must be better to die than the perform certain extreme deeds.
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / g. Consequentialism
It is right to lie to someone, to get them to take medicine they are reluctant to take
                        Full Idea: It is right to lie to your parents, in order to get them to take a good medicine they are reluctant to take.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §3)
                        A reaction: I dread to think what the medicines were which convinced the writer of this. A rule such as this strikes me as dangerous. Justifiable in extreme cases. House on fire etc.
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / b. Consultation
The first priority in elections is to vote for people who support democracy
                        Full Idea: A lottery is not democratic, because every state contains people who are not democratic, and if the lottery chooses them they will destroy the democracy. People should elect those who are observed to favour democracy.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §7)
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / c. Teaching
We learn language, and we don't know who teaches us it
                        Full Idea: We learn language, and we don't know who teaches us it.
                        From: Anon (Diss) (Dissoi Logoi - on Double Arguments [c.401 BCE], §6)