3 ideas
16157 | Insurance on the original ship would hardly be paid out if the plank version was wrecked! [Frede,M] |
Full Idea: No insurance company, presented with a policy written for 'Theoris' [the original ship] would pay for damages suffered if the ship contructed from the old planks had been shipwrecked. | |
From: Michael Frede (Individuals in Aristotle [1978]) | |
A reaction: A very nicely dramatic way of presenting what is taken to be the usual reading of the basic case - that the original identity tracks the continuity of the original structure, not the matter. |
23873 | Dividing history books into separate chapters is disastrous [Weil] |
Full Idea: The division of history textbooks into chapters will cost us many disastrous mistakes. | |
From: Simone Weil (Fragments [1936], p.131) | |
A reaction: Nice observation. The point is that we fail to grasp what really happened if we draw sharp lines across history. |
7907 | Human killing is worse if the victim is virtuous [Buddhaghosa] |
Full Idea: In the case of humans killing is the more blameworthy the more virtuous the victim is. | |
From: Buddhaghosa (Papancasudani [c.400], 9.7-10) | |
A reaction: This sentiment has almost become a taboo in western society, and yet it is present all the time. The greatest outcry is about murders of really good citizens. Occasionally the murder of a villain causes little regret. |