display all the ideas for this combination of texts
7 ideas
547 | The ability to teach is a mark of true knowledge [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: The ability to teach is a distinguishing mark between the knowledgeable and the ignorant man. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 0981b04) |
14365 | Scientific understanding is always the grasping of a correct explanation [Strevens] |
Full Idea: I defend what I call the 'simple view', that scientific understanding is that state produced, and only produced, by grasping a correct explanation. | |
From: Michael Strevens (No Understanding without Explanation [2011], Intro) | |
A reaction: I like this because it clearly states what I take to be the view of Aristotle, and the key to understanding the whole of that philosopher's system. I take the view to be correct. |
14368 | We may 'understand that' the cat is on the mat, but not at all 'understand why' it is there [Strevens] |
Full Idea: 'Understanding why' is quite separate from 'understanding that': you might be exquisitely, incandescently aware of the cat's being on the mat without having the slightest clue how it got there. My topic is understanding why. | |
From: Michael Strevens (No Understanding without Explanation [2011], 2) | |
A reaction: Can't we separate 'understand how' from 'understand why'? I may know that someone dropped a cat through my letterbox, but more understanding would still be required. (He later adds understanding 'with' a theory). |
14369 | Understanding is a precondition, comes in degrees, is active, and holistic - unlike explanation [Strevens] |
Full Idea: Objectors to the idea that understanding requires explanation say that understanding is a precondition for explanation, that understanding comes in degrees, that understanding is active, and that it is holistic - all unlike explanations. | |
From: Michael Strevens (No Understanding without Explanation [2011], 4) | |
A reaction: He works through these four objections and replies to them, in defence of the thesis in Idea 14365. I agree with Strevens on this. |
544 | Experience knows particulars, but only skill knows universals [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: Experience is the knowledge of particulars and skill that of universals. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 0981a14) |
546 | It takes skill to know causes, not experience [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: The skilled know the cause, whereas the experienced do not. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 0981a29) |
10950 | Things are produced from skill if the form of them is in the mind [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: Things are produced from skill if the form of them is in the mind. | |
From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1032a33) | |
A reaction: This resembles the legal notion of 'mens rea', the conscious intention to commit the deed. |