Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Life of Pythagoras' and 'A Short History of German Philosophy'

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4 ideas

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 3. Metaphysical Systems
Early Romantics sought a plurality of systems, in a quest for freedom [Hösle]
     Full Idea: It was an early Romantic idea that there is necessarily a plurality of systems in which individuality is expressed; for a complete system would destroy freedom.
     From: Vittorio Hösle (A Short History of German Philosophy [2013], 7)
     A reaction: I'm not clear why you are free because you are locked into system that differs from that of other people. True freedom seems to be either no system, or continually remaking one's own system. Why is such freedom valuable? Freedom v truth?
21. Aesthetics / C. Artistic Issues / 7. Art and Morality
Musical performance can reveal a range of virtues [Damon of Ath.]
     Full Idea: In singing and playing the lyre, a boy will be likely to reveal not only courage and moderation, but also justice.
     From: Damon (fragments/reports [c.460 BCE], B4), quoted by (who?) - where?
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / d. Study of history
In the 18th century history came to be seen as progressive, rather than cyclical [Hösle]
     Full Idea: The turning point in the history of the philosophy of history occurs in the eighteenth century, when the ancient cyclical model of Vico is superseded by the idea of progress.
     From: Vittorio Hösle (A Short History of German Philosophy [2013], 6)
     A reaction: He says that Hegel merely inherited this progressive view, rather than creating it. I'm not sure how widely held the cyclical view was. I don't recognise it in Shakespeare. Science and technology must have suggested progress.
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / b. Euthyphro question
Pythagoreans believe it is absurd to seek for goodness anywhere except with the gods [Iamblichus]
     Full Idea: The thinking behind Pythagorean philosophy is that people behave in an absurd fashion if they try to find any source for the good other than the gods.
     From: Iamblichus (Life of Pythagoras [c.290], 137)