Ideas from 'Short History of Modern Philosophy' by Roger Scruton [1981], by Theme Structure

[found in 'A Short History of Modern Philosophy' by Scruton,Roger [ARK 1985,0-7448-0010-2]].

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5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 2. History of Logic

5637	Nowadays logic is seen as the science of extensions, not intensions

			Full Idea: Logicians have come increasingly to realise that logic is the science not of the intension, but of the extension of terms.
			From: Roger Scruton (Short History of Modern Philosophy [1981], Ch.4)
			A reaction: I take this to be because the notion of a 'set' is basic, which is defined strictly in terms of its members. This move is probably because we can be clear about extensions, but not intensions. Tidiness is no substitute for complex truth.

18. Thought / C. Content / 2. Ideas

5636	Cartesian 'ideas' confuse concepts and propositions

			Full Idea: Cartesian 'ideas' seem to be both concepts and propositions at once.
			From: Roger Scruton (Short History of Modern Philosophy [1981], Ch.4)
			A reaction: This seems to be the simple reason why modern philosophers don't like this seventeenth century notion. There is something slightly too tidy about the modern notion of propositions built out of concepts. Animals see propositions in a flash.

24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 3. Natural Values / c. Natural rights

5660	Allegiance is prior to the recognition of individual rights

			Full Idea: Personally I regard allegiance, in the manner of Hegel, as prior to the recognition of individual rights.
			From: Roger Scruton (Short History of Modern Philosophy [1981], Bibliog)
			A reaction: Scruton notoriously generates rather right-wing views from this basis, but it is also the basis of communitarianism, which can take a softer form. It seems to me self-evident that rights cannot be the prime concept in a society. What society?

25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights

5653	A right is a power which is enforced in the name of justice

			Full Idea: Rights are enforced in the name of justice, whereas power is enforced come what may.
			From: Roger Scruton (Short History of Modern Philosophy [1981], Ch.14)
			A reaction: Presumably rights can be claimed as well as enforced, and the notion of a natural right is at least a discussable concept, as in the 'right' of self-defence. Scruton offers us a very right-wing definition of rights.