Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Frege's Theory of Numbers', 'The Handbook [Encheiridion]' and 'Justice as fairness: Political not Metaphysical'

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6 ideas

6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 4. Using Numbers / c. Counting procedure

17447	Parsons says counting is tagging as first, second, third..., and converting the last to a cardinal [Parsons,C, by Heck]
	Full Idea: In Parsons's demonstrative model of counting, '1' means the first, and counting says 'the first, the second, the third', where one is supposed to 'tag' each object exactly once, and report how many by converting the last ordinal into a cardinal.
	From: report of Charles Parsons (Frege's Theory of Numbers [1965]) by Richard G. Heck - Cardinality, Counting and Equinumerosity 3
	A reaction: This sounds good. Counting seems to rely on that fact that numbers can be both ordinals and cardinals. You don't 'convert' at the end, though, because all the way you mean 'this cardinality in this order'.

22. Metaethics / A. Ethics Foundations / 2. Source of Ethics / e. Human nature

23366	We see nature's will in the ways all people are the same [Epictetus]
	Full Idea: The will of nature may be learned from those things in which we do not differ from one another.
	From: Epictetus (The Handbook [Encheiridion] [c.58], 26)
	A reaction: There you go! This is the rule for anthropologists on field trips. And it guides us towards a core of essential human nature. But it neglects the way that nature is expressed in different cultures, which is also important.

23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / f. Compassion

4022	Epictetus says we should console others for misfortune, but not be moved by pity [Epictetus, by Taylor,C]
	Full Idea: The injunction of Epictetus is well known, that in commiserating with another for his misfortune, we ought to talk consolingly, but not be moved by pity.
	From: report of Epictetus (The Handbook [Encheiridion] [c.58], §16) by Charles Taylor - Sources of the Self §15.1
	A reaction: This goes strongly against the grain of the Christian tradition, but strikes me as an appealing attitude (even if I am the sufferer).

23365	If someone is weeping, you should sympathise and help, but not share his suffering [Epictetus]
	Full Idea: When you see someone weeping is sorrow …do not shrink from sympathising with him, and even groaning with him, but be careful not to groan inwardly too.
	From: Epictetus (The Handbook [Encheiridion] [c.58], 16)
	A reaction: The point is that the person's suffering is an 'indifferent' because nothing can be done about it, and we should only really care about what we are able to choose. He is not opposed to the man's suffering, or his need for support.

23. Ethics / E. Utilitarianism / 4. Unfairness

22406	The maximisation of happiness must be done fairly [Rawls, by Smart]
	Full Idea: Rawls has suggested that we should maximise the general happiness only if we do so in a fair way.
	From: report of John Rawls (Justice as fairness: Political not Metaphysical [1958]) by J.J.C. Smart - Outline of a System of Utilitarianism 6
	A reaction: Rawls is usually seen as an opponent of utilitarianism, but if we allow a few supplementary rules we can improve the theory. After all, it has a meta-rule that 'everybody counts as one'. What other supplementary values can there be? Honesty?

25. Social Practice / D. Justice / 3. Punishment / a. Right to punish

23368	Perhaps we should persuade culprits that their punishment is just? [Epictetus]
	Full Idea: The governor Agrippinus would try to persuade those whom he sentenced that it was proper for them to be sentenced, …just as the physician persuades a patient to accept their treatment.
	From: Epictetus (The Handbook [Encheiridion] [c.58], 22)
	A reaction: This resembles the Contractualism of T.H. Scanlon (that actions are good if you can justify them to those involved). It may be possible to persuade people by the use of sophistry and lies. Nevertheless, a fairly civilise proposal.