Combining Texts

Ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'The Doctrine of Necessity Examined' and 'Philosophical Investigations'

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2 ideas

11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 4. Belief / c. Aim of beliefs
The belief that fire burns is like the fear that it burns [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: The belief that fire will burn me is of the same kind as the fear that it will burn me.
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §473)
     A reaction: Most of our beliefs are forced on us, rather than chosen, and this nice remark gives an indication of the reason. It dovetails with Peirce's pragmatic approach to be belief (e.g. Idea 6598), which is well developed by Robert Fogelin.
11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 2. Phenomenalism
Are sense-data the material of which the universe is made? [Wittgenstein]
     Full Idea: Are sense-data the material of which the universe is made?
     From: Ludwig Wittgenstein (Philosophical Investigations [1952], §401)
     A reaction: Presumably the question is meant to be absurd, and to a realist it is. You can't serious think that a filing cabinet is made of sensations.