Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Librium de interpretatione editio secunda', 'The Structure and Content of Truth' and 'Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity'

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6 ideas

3. Truth / C. Correspondence Truth / 3. Correspondence Truth critique

18902	Correspondence theories can't tell you what truths correspond to [Davidson]
	Full Idea: The real objection to correspondence theories is that such theories fail to provide entities to which truth vehicles (as statements, sentence, or utterances) can be said to correspond.
	From: Donald Davidson (The Structure and Content of Truth [1990], p.304), quoted by Fred Sommers - Intellectual Autobiography Notes 23
	A reaction: This is the remark which provoked Sommers to come out with Idea 18901, which strikes me as rather profound.

9. Objects / A. Existence of Objects / 5. Individuation / d. Individuation by haecceity

14665	We can call the quality of Plato 'Platonity', and say it is a quality which only he possesses [Boethius]
	Full Idea: Let the incommunicable property of Plato be called 'Platonity'. For we can call this quality 'Platonity' by a fabricated word, in the way in which we call the quality of man 'humanity'. Therefore this Platonity is one man's alone - Plato's.
	From: Boethius (Librium de interpretatione editio secunda [c.516], PL64 462d), quoted by Alvin Plantinga - Actualism and Possible Worlds 5
	A reaction: Plantinga uses this idea to reinstate the old notion of a haecceity, to bestow unshakable identity on things. My interest in the quotation is that the most shocking confusions about properties arose long before the invention of set theory.

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.