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3 ideas
2809 | If nature makes everything for a purpose, then plants and animals must have been made for man [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: If nature makes nothing without some end in view, nothing to no purpose, it must be that nature has made plants and animals for the sake of man. | |
From: Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1256b20) | |
A reaction: That was a rather fast move! If a tiger eats a man, how do we explain that? Why are some plants poisonous? Pebbles on a beach seem to have no purpose. |
2800 | The best instruments have one purpose, not many [Aristotle] |
Full Idea: Every instrument will be made best if it serves not many purposes but one. | |
From: Aristotle (Politics [c.332 BCE], 1252b03) | |
A reaction: Sound like a good general truth, but not a universal truth. Swiss army knife. Ship in a bottle. Pins. Wrapping paper. |
1748 | Archelaus was the first person to say that the universe is boundless [Archelaus, by Diog. Laertius] |
Full Idea: Archelaus was the first person to say that the universe is boundless. | |
From: report of Archelaus (fragments/reports [c.450 BCE]) by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 02.Ar.3 |