Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics', 'Cogitata et Visa' and 'works'

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4 ideas

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 1. Nature of Metaphysics

21959	Metaphysics is the most general attempt to make sense of things [Moore,AW]
	Full Idea: Metaphysics is the most general attempt to make sense of things.
	From: A.W. Moore (The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics [2012], Intro)
	A reaction: This is the first sentence of Moore's book, and a touchstone idea all the way through. It stands up well, because it says enough without committing to too much. I have to agree with it. It implies explanation as the key. I like generality too.

4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 8. Critique of Set Theory

13536	Skolem did not believe in the existence of uncountable sets [Skolem]
	Full Idea: Skolem did not believe in the existence of uncountable sets.
	From: Thoralf Skolem (works [1920], 5.3)
	A reaction: Kit Fine refers somewhere to 'unrepentent Skolemites' who still hold this view.

11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 3. Idealism / b. Transcendental idealism

21958	Appearances are nothing beyond representations, which is transcendental ideality [Moore,AW]
	Full Idea: Appearances in general are nothing outside our representations, which is just what we mean by transcendental ideality.
	From: A.W. Moore (The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics [2012], B535/A507)

12. Knowledge Sources / D. Empiricism / 1. Empiricism

3648	Empiricists are collecting ants; rationalists are spinning spiders; and bees do both [Bacon]
	Full Idea: Empiricists are like ants; they collect and put to use; but rationalists, like spiders, spin threads out of themselves. (…and bees follow the middle way, of collecting material and transforming it).
	From: Francis Bacon (Cogitata et Visa [1607])
	A reaction: Nice (and so concisely expressed). Bees seem to be just more intelligent and energetic empiricists.