Combining Texts

Ideas for 'Causality: Production and Propagation', 'Natural Science (lost)' and 'The Trouble with Being Born'

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2 ideas

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / i. Deflating being

23077	The word 'being' is very tempting, but in fact means nothing at all [Cioran]
	Full Idea: Whether it is spoken by a grocer or a philosopher, the word 'being', apparently so rich, so tempting, so charged with significance, in fact means nothing at all; incredible that a man in his right mind can use it on any occasion whatever.
	From: E.M. Cioran (The Trouble with Being Born [1973], 12)
	A reaction: I entirely agree. It resembles the redundancy view of 'true' (with which I do not agree).

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence

527	Everything exists which anyone perceives [Metrodorus of Chios]
	Full Idea: Everything exists which anyone perceives.
	From: Metrodorus (Chi) (Natural Science (lost) [c.340 BCE], B2), quoted by (who?) - where?
	A reaction: cf Berkeley and Epicurus. This misses out the problem of perceptual error, such as a square tower looking round from a distance, or one person in a group thinking they have seen something. It is still a good criterion, though!