Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Mind and Its Place in Nature', 'Intro to I: Classical Logic' and 'comedies (frags)'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     specify just one area for these texts


9 ideas

5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 6. Classical Logic
Classical logic is bivalent, has excluded middle, and only quantifies over existent objects [Jacquette]
     Full Idea: Classical logic (of Whitehead, Russell, Gödel, Church) is a two-valued system of propositional and predicate logic, in which all propositions are exclusively true or false, and quantification and predication are over existent objects only.
     From: Dale Jacquette (Intro to I: Classical Logic [2002], p.9)
     A reaction: All of these get challenged at some point, though the existence requirement is the one I find dubious.
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 6. Constitution of an Object
Additional or removal of any part changes a thing, so people are never the same person [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: If you add or take away a pebble, the same number does not remain. If you add to a length or cut off from it, the former measure does not remain. So human beings grow or waste away. Both you and I were, and shall be, other men.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B02), quoted by Diogenes Laertius - Lives of Eminent Philosophers 03.12
     A reaction: [The original is in dialogue form from a play. The context is a joke about not paying a debt.] Note the early date for this metaphysical puzzle. My new favourite reply is Chrysippus's Idea 16059; identity actually requires change.
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 6. Inference in Perception
Broad rejects the inferential component of the representative theory [Broad, by Maund]
     Full Idea: Broad, one of the most important modern defenders of the representative theory of perception, explicitly rejects the inferential component of the theory.
     From: report of C.D. Broad (Mind and Its Place in Nature [1925]) by Barry Maund - Perception Ch.1
     A reaction: Since the supposed inferences happen much too quickly to be conscious, it is hard to see how we could distinguish an inference from an interpretation mechanism. Personally I interpret things long before the question of truth arises.
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 1. Relativism
A dog seems handsome to another a dog, and even a pig to another pig [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: Dog seems very handsome to dog, and ox to ox, and donkey very handsome to donkey, and even pig to pig.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B05), quoted by (who?) - where?
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 3. Pleasure / f. Dangers of pleasure
Pleasures are like pirates - if you are caught they drown you in a sea of pleasures [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: Pleasures for mortals are like impious pirates, for the man who is caught by pleasures is immediately drowned in a sea of them.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B44), quoted by (who?) - where?
     A reaction: Not all slopes are slippery. Plenty of people hold themselves to strict rules about alcohol or gambling. People have occasional treats.
23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 1. Contractarianism
Hands wash hands; give that you may get [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: The hand washes the hand; give something and you may get something.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B30), quoted by (who?) - where?
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / c. Justice
Against a villain, villainy is not a useless weapon [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: Against a villain, villainy is not a useless weapon.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B32), quoted by (who?) - where?
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 3. Divine Perfections
God knows everything, and nothing is impossible for him [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: Nothing escapes the divine, this you must realise. God himself is our overseer, and nothing is impossible for him.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B23), quoted by (who?) - where?
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 3. Problem of Evil / c. Human Error
Human logos is an aspect of divine logos, and is sufficient for successful living [Epicharmus]
     Full Idea: Man has calculation, but there is also the divine logos. But human logos is sprung from the divine logos, and it brings to each man his means of life, and his maintenance.
     From: Epicharmus (comedies (frags) [c.470 BCE], B57), quoted by (who?) - where?