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Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari)' and 'Conditionals (Stanf)'

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3 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 1. Philosophy
7846 Nietzsche thinks philosophy makes us more profound, but not better [Nietzsche, by Ansell Pearson]
     Full Idea: Nietzsche does not think philosopher exists to make us better human beings - but it can make us more profound ones.
     From: report of Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885]) by Keith Ansell Pearson - How to Read Nietzsche Intro
     A reaction: What is the point of being more 'profound' if that isn't 'better'? Are we sure that Kant is more 'profound' than a Yanomamo Indian? Personally I think philosophy tends to produce moral improvement, but I have seen a few striking counterexamples.
1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 7. Despair over Philosophy
20107 How many mediocre thinkers are occupied with influential problems! [Nietzsche]
     Full Idea: It is a terrible thought to contemplate that an immense number of mediocre thinkers are occupied with really influential matters.
     From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885]), quoted by Rüdiger Safranski - Nietzsche: a philosophical biography 03
     A reaction: [in a journal of 1867] What would he say now, with the plethora of academics and students aspiring to the highest levels of human thought? If I face up to the fact that I am 'mediocre', should I stop? And become mediocre at something else?
1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 6. Metaphysics as Conceptual
20352 Nietzsche has a metaphysics, as well as perspectives - the ontology is the perspectives [Nietzsche, by Richardson]
     Full Idea: Nietzsche's thought includes both a metaphysics and a perspectivism, once these are more complexly grasped. But I argue that the metaphysics is basic: it's an ontology of perspectives.
     From: report of Friedrich Nietzsche (Works (refs to 8 vol Colli and Montinari) [1885]) by John Richardson - Nietzsche's System Intro
     A reaction: Very good. If it was just gormless relativism, which is what many people hope for in Nietzsche, why is it many perspectives? If they are just relative, having lots of them is no help. The point is they sum, and increase verisimilitude.