Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Unconscious Cerebral Initiative', 'Twilight of the Idols' and 'Politics'

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3 ideas

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / a. Final purpose

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.

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / b. Limited purposes

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.

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 2. Natural Purpose / c. Purpose denied

2905	'Purpose' is just a human fiction [Nietzsche]
	Full Idea: We invented the concept 'purpose': in reality purpose is lacking.
	From: Friedrich Nietzsche (Twilight of the Idols [1889], 5.8)