Combining Texts

Ideas for 'The Problem of Empty Names', 'The Tarskian Turn' and 'On the spiritual perfection of life'

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2 ideas

2. Reason / C. Styles of Reason / 1. Dialectic
Arguing with opponents uncovers truths, and restrains falsehoods [Aquinas]
     Full Idea: There is no better way of uncovering the truth and keeping falsity in check than by arguing with people who disagree with you.
     From: Thomas Aquinas (On the spiritual perfection of life [1268], 26), quoted by Kretzmann/Stump - Aquinas, Thomas 05
     A reaction: Not the sort of attitude you associate with medieval scholastics, who are presumed to be dogmatists. How many modern philosophers actually have the courage to follow this advice?
2. Reason / D. Definition / 2. Aims of Definition
A definition should allow the defined term to be eliminated [Horsten]
     Full Idea: A definition allows a defined term to be eliminated in every context in which it appears.
     From: Leon Horsten (The Tarskian Turn [2011], 04.2)
     A reaction: To do that, a definition had better be incredibly comprehensive, so that no nice nuance of the original term is thrown out.