Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Unconscious Cerebral Initiative', 'Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity' and 'Wang's Paradox'

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7 ideas

7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 10. Vagueness / b. Vagueness of reality

21628	To say reality itself is vague is not properly intelligible [Dummett]
	Full Idea: The notion that things might actually be vague, as well as being vaguely described, is not properly intelligible.
	From: Michael Dummett (Wang's Paradox [1970], p.260)
	A reaction: It seems hard to disagree with this. It seems crazy that a pile of grain, or the hair on someone's head, are vague, and even quantum indeterminacies are not very well described as 'vague'. Vagueness is a very human concept.

20. Action / B. Preliminaries of Action / 2. Willed Action / a. Will to Act

7861	Libet says the processes initiated in the cortex can still be consciously changed [Libet, by Papineau]
	Full Idea: Libet himself points out that the conscious decisions still have the power to 'endorse' or 'cancel', so to speak, the processes initiated by the earlier cortical activity: no action will result if the action's execution is consciously countermanded.
	From: report of Benjamin Libet (Unconscious Cerebral Initiative [1985]) by David Papineau - Thinking about Consciousness 1.4
	A reaction: This is why Libet's findings do not imply 'epiphenomenalism'. It seems that part of a decisive action is non-conscious, undermining the all-or-nothing view of consciousness. Searle tries to smuggle in free will at this point (Idea 3817).

6660	Libet found conscious choice 0.2 secs before movement, well after unconscious 'readiness potential' [Libet, by Lowe]
	Full Idea: Libet found that a subject's conscious choice to move was about a fifth of a second before movement, and thus later than the onset of the brain's so-called 'readiness potential', which seems to imply that unconscious processes initiates action.
	From: report of Benjamin Libet (Unconscious Cerebral Initiative [1985]) by E.J. Lowe - Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind Ch.9
	A reaction: Of great interest to philosophers! It seems to make conscious choices epiphenomenal. The key move, I think, is to give up the idea of consciousness as being all-or-nothing. My actions are still initiated by 'me', but 'me' shades off into unconsciousness.

25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights

19896	It is not a law if not endorsed by the public [Hooker,R]
	Full Idea: Laws they are not which public approbation hath not made so.
	From: Richard Hooker (Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity [1593], I s.10), quoted by John Locke - Second Treatise of Government 134 n1
	A reaction: Margaret Thatcher's Poll Tax, rejected by public rebellion, illustrates the point.

25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / b. Rule of law

19891	Rule of law is superior to autonomy, because citizens can see what is expected [Hooker,R]
	Full Idea: Men saw that to live by one man's will became the cause of all men's misery. This contrained them to come unto laws wherein all men might see their duty beforehand, and know the penalties of transgressing them.
	From: Richard Hooker (Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity [1593], I s.10), quoted by John Locke - Second Treatise of Government 111 n1
	A reaction: One British school has a single rule, that pupils 'shall always treat other people with respect'. Presumably the rulers, as well as the pupils, must decide when this is transgressed. The rule of law may be preferable.

25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 2. The Law / c. Natural law

19897	Human laws must accord with the general laws of Nature [Hooker,R]
	Full Idea: Laws human must be made according to the general laws of Nature.
	From: Richard Hooker (Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity [1593], III s.9), quoted by John Locke - Second Treatise of Government
	A reaction: The point simply seems to be that they won't get assent from the public if they are not in accord with natural justice. Positivists say you can make any damned law you like.

26. Natural Theory / D. Laws of Nature / 8. Scientific Essentialism / c. Essence and laws

17005	Natural things observe certain laws, and things cannot do otherwise if they retain their forms [Hooker,R]
	Full Idea: Things natural …do so necessarily observe their certain laws, that as long as they keep those forms which give them their being they cannot possibly be apt or inclinable to do otherwise than they do.
	From: Richard Hooker (Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity [1593], 1.3.4), quoted by Marc Lange - Laws and Lawmakers 1.2
	A reaction: Cited by some as the beginnings of the idea of 'laws of nature', but it is striking that Hooker says the laws are controlled by 'forms' (which are Aristotelian essences). This is an essentialist view of laws, not a regularity or divine power one.