Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics', 'Empiricism, Semantics and Ontology' and 'On the Heavens'

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2 ideas

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.

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 2. Possibility of Metaphysics

13939	No possible evidence could decide the reality of numbers, so it is a pseudo-question [Carnap]
	Full Idea: I cannot think of any possible evidence that would be regarded as relevant by both nominalists and realists about numbers, and would decide the controversy, or make one side more probable. Hence I regard the external questions as pseudo-questions.
	From: Rudolph Carnap (Empiricism, Semantics and Ontology [1950], 4)