Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'works (all lost)', 'Treatise on Quantity' and 'Equality'

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9 ideas

9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 4. Quantity of an Object
Quantity is the quantified parts of a thing, plus location and coordination [Olivi]
     Full Idea: Quantity refers to nothing other than the parts of the thing quantified, together with their location or position, being extrinsically coordinated with each other.
     From: Peter John Olivi (Treatise on Quantity [1286], f. 49vb), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 14.1
     A reaction: I'm not sure I understand 'extrinsically'. Is there some external stretching force? God spends his time spreading out his stuff? It is nice that being spread out isn't taken for granted. We take much more for granted than they did. Motion, for example.
23. Ethics / D. Deontological Ethics / 3. Universalisability
The general form of moral reasoning is putting yourself in other people's shoes [Nagel]
     Full Idea: I believe the general form of moral reasoning is to put yourself in other people's shoes.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §9)
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / c. Difference principle
An egalitarian system must give priority to those with the worst prospects in life [Nagel]
     Full Idea: What makes a system egalitarian is the priority it gives to the claims of those whose overall life prospects put them at the bottom.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §6)
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 1. Grounds of equality
Equality was once opposed to aristocracy, but now it opposes public utility and individual rights [Nagel]
     Full Idea: Egalitarianism was once opposed to aristocratic values, but now it is opposed by adherents of two non-aristocratic values: utility (increase benefit, even if unequally) and individual rights (which redistribution violates).
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §2)
The ideal of acceptability to each individual underlies the appeal to equality [Nagel]
     Full Idea: The ideal of acceptability to each individual underlies the appeal to equality.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §8)
In judging disputes, should we use one standard, or those of each individual? [Nagel]
     Full Idea: In assessing equality of claims, it must be decided whether to use a single, objective standard, or whether interests should be ranked by the person's own estimation. Also should they balance momentary or long-term needs?
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §6)
25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 2. Political equality
Equality can either be defended as good for society, or as good for individual rights [Nagel]
     Full Idea: The communitarian defence of equality says it is good for society as a whole, whereas the individualistic defence defends equality as a correct distributive principle.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §2)
Equality nowadays is seen as political, social, legal and economic [Nagel]
     Full Idea: Contemporary political debate recognises four types of equality: political, social, legal and economic.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §1)
     A reaction: Meaning equality of 1) power and influence, 2) status and respect, 3) rights and justice, 4) wealth.
25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights
A morality of rights is very minimal, leaving a lot of human life without restrictions or duties [Nagel]
     Full Idea: The morality of rights tends to be a limited, even minimal, morality. It leaves a great deal of human life ungoverned by moral restrictions or requirements.
     From: Thomas Nagel (Equality [1977], §5)