Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics', '75: Is 'Live Unknown' a Wise Precept?' and 'Problems in Personal Identity'

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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.
5. Theory of Logic / D. Assumptions for Logic / 4. Identity in Logic
3299 In logic identity involves reflexivity (x=x), symmetry (if x=y, then y=x) and transitivity (if x=y and y=z, then x=z) [Baillie]
     Full Idea: In logic identity is an equivalence relation, which involves reflexivity (x=x), symmetry (if x=y, then y=x), and transitivity (if x=y and y=z, then x=z).
     From: James Baillie (Problems in Personal Identity [1993], Intr p.4)
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)
15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche
5959 Some philosophers say the soul is light [Plutarch]
     Full Idea: Some philosophers hold that the soul is in its essence light.
     From: Plutarch (75: Is 'Live Unknown' a Wise Precept? [c.85], §6)
     A reaction: A nice idea, to rival the stoic view that the soul is fire. It is understandable to propose that the soul is some sort of lightweight and fast moving matter. How else could thought be achieved physically? Nowadays, parallel processing is our only model.