Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics', 'A General Principle to Explain Laws of Nature' and 'Hymn to Perfect Wisdom'

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3 ideas

1. Philosophy / A. Wisdom / 1. Nature of Wisdom

7911	Theory vanishes when one has obtained wisdom [Rahulabhadra]
	Full Idea: As the drops of dew in contact/ With the sun's rays disappear,/ So all theorizings vanish,/ Once one has obtained wisdom.
	From: Rahulabhadra (Hymn to Perfect Wisdom [c.150], v 10)
	A reaction: I suspect that the western view is that wisdom is good theory. This sounds like the sort of thing Wittgenstein would have said. Remarks like this encourage people to skip study, with the illusion that they can go straight to wisdom.

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 2. Invocation to Philosophy

19395	Philosophy is sanctified, because it flows from God [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: Philosophy is sanctified by having its streams flow from the fountain of God's attributes.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (A General Principle to Explain Laws of Nature [1687], p.69)

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 1. Nature of Metaphysics

21959	Metaphysics is the most general attempt to make sense of things [Moore,AW]
	Full Idea: Metaphysics is the most general attempt to make sense of things.
	From: A.W. Moore (The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics [2012], Intro)
	A reaction: This is the first sentence of Moore's book, and a touchstone idea all the way through. It stands up well, because it says enough without committing to too much. I have to agree with it. It implies explanation as the key. I like generality too.