Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Unconscious Cerebral Initiative', 'What is a Law of Nature?' and 'On Denoting'

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2 ideas

1. Philosophy / C. History of Philosophy / 5. Modern Philosophy / b. Modern philosophy beginnings

11006	Russell started a whole movement in philosophy by providing an analysis of descriptions [Read on Russell]
	Full Idea: Russell started a whole movement in philosophy by providing an analysis of descriptions.
	From: comment on Bertrand Russell (On Denoting [1905]) by Stephen Read - Thinking About Logic Ch.5

1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 7. Limitations of Analysis

17663	If you know what it is, investigation is pointless. If you don't, investigation is impossible [Armstrong]
	Full Idea: Paradox of Analysis:if we ask what sort of thing an X is, then either we know what an X is or we do not. If we know then there is no need to ask the question. If we do not know then there is no way to begin the investigation. It's pointless or impossible
	From: David M. Armstrong (What is a Law of Nature? [1983], 01.2)
	A reaction: [G.E. Moore is the source of this, somewhere] Plato worried that to get to know something you must already know it. Solving this requires the concept of a 'benign' circularity.