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Ideas for 'Metaphysics', 'A Note on the entscheidungsproblem' and 'A Structural Account of Mathematics'

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5 ideas

27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 4. Standard Model / a. Concept of matter
'Gunk' is an individual possessing no parts that are atoms [Chihara]
     Full Idea: An 'atomless gunk' is defined to be an individual possessing no parts that are atoms.
     From: Charles Chihara (A Structural Account of Mathematics [2004], App A)
     A reaction: [Lewis coined it] If you ask what are a-toms made of and what are ideas made of, the only answer we can offer is that the a-toms are made of gunk, and the ideas aren't made of anything, which is still bad news for the existence of ideas.
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 3. Parts of Time / a. Beginning of time
It is hard to see how either time or movement could come into existence or be destroyed [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: It is impossible that movement should either come-to-be or be destroyed. The same can be said for time itself, since it is not even possible for there to be an earlier and a later if time does not exist.
     From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1071b06)
27. Natural Reality / E. Cosmology / 3. The Beginning
The first mover is necessary, and because it is necessary it is good [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: The existence of the first mover is necessary, and in that it is necessary it is good.
     From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1072b10)
     A reaction: This is the direct antithesis of David Hume's is/ought distinction (that the universe is value-free).
Even if the world is caused by fate, mind and nature are still prior causes [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: Even if luck or the automatic are the cause of the world, mind and nature are prior causes still.
     From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1065b03)
Something which both moves and is moved is intermediate, so it follows that there must be an unmoved mover [Aristotle]
     Full Idea: Since that which is moved and which also moves is an intermediate, it follows that there must be something that moves without being moved.
     From: Aristotle (Metaphysics [c.324 BCE], 1072a19)