6 ideas
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. |
17423 | The essence of natural numbers must reflect all the functions they perform [Sicha] |
Full Idea: What is really essential to being a natural number is what is common to the natural numbers in all the functions they perform. | |
From: Jeffrey H. Sicha (Counting and the Natural Numbers [1968], 2) | |
A reaction: I could try using natural numbers as insults. 'You despicable seven!' 'How dare you!' I actually agree. The question about functions is always 'what is it about this thing that enables it to perform this function'. |
17425 | To know how many, you need a numerical quantifier, as well as equinumerosity [Sicha] |
Full Idea: A knowledge of 'how many' cannot be inferred from the equinumerosity of two collections; a numerical quantifier statement is needed. | |
From: Jeffrey H. Sicha (Counting and the Natural Numbers [1968], 3) |
17424 | Counting puts an initial segment of a serial ordering 1-1 with some other entities [Sicha] |
Full Idea: Counting is the activity of putting an initial segment of a serially ordered string in 1-1 correspondence with some other collection of entities. | |
From: Jeffrey H. Sicha (Counting and the Natural Numbers [1968], 2) |
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) |
4422 | The end need not be the goal, as in the playing of a melody (and yet it must be completed) [Nietzsche] |
Full Idea: Not every end is the goal; the end of a melody is not its goal; and yet: as long as the melody has not reached its end, it also hasn't reached its goal. A parable. | |
From: Friedrich Nietzsche (The Wanderer and his Shadow [1880], §204) | |
A reaction: A nice message for Aristotle, that there is no simple separation of ends and means. |