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Ideas for 'works', 'Physics' and 'Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671'

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2 ideas

2. Reason / A. Nature of Reason / 4. Aims of Reason
Reason grasps generalities, while the senses grasp particulars [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: Reason grasps generalities, while the senses grasp particulars.
     From: Aristotle (Physics [c.337 BCE], 189a06)
     A reaction: This does not seem to be entirely true. Sherlock Holmes reasons towards the particular. Nevertheless, we see what he means. Reason deals with universals, and reason derives principles and patterns from the particulars.
2. Reason / B. Laws of Thought / 6. Ockham's Razor
Anti-Razor: if you can't account for a truth, keep positing things until you can [Pasnau]
     Full Idea: The Anti-Razor says 'whenever an affirmative proposition is truly stated, if one thing does not suffice to account for its truth, then one must posit things, and if two do not suffice then three, and so on to infinity'.
     From: Robert Pasnau (Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 [2011], 14.3)
     A reaction: This is quoted from an anonymous logic text of 1325. Apparently Ockham himself articulated the idea more than once.