4 ideas
8658 | For there was never yet philosopher/ That could endure the toothache patiently [Shakespeare] |
Full Idea: For there was never yet philosopher/ That could endure the toothache patiently. | |
From: William Shakespeare (Much Ado About Nothing [1600], V.i) | |
A reaction: You can't argue with that. I do think that people who have studied philosophy at length are more likely to be 'philosophical' when faced with human misery, but only up to a point. |
9182 | Ancient names like 'Obadiah' depend on tradition, not on where the name originated [Dummett] |
Full Idea: In the case of 'Obadiah', associated only with one act of writing a prophecy, ..it is the tradition which connects our use of the name with the man; where the actual name itself first came from has little to do with it. | |
From: Michael Dummett (Frege's Distinction of Sense and Reference [1975], p.256) | |
A reaction: Excellent. This seems to me a much more accurate account of reference than the notion of a baptism. In the case of 'Homer', whether someone was ever baptised thus is of no importance to us. The tradition is everything. Also Shakespeare. |
9181 | The causal theory of reference can't distinguish just hearing a name from knowing its use [Dummett] |
Full Idea: The causal theory of reference, in a full-blown form, makes it impossible to distinguish between knowing the use of a proper name and simply having heard the name and recognising it as a name. | |
From: Michael Dummett (Frege's Distinction of Sense and Reference [1975], p.254) | |
A reaction: None of these things are all-or-nothing. I have an inkling of how to use it once I realise it is a name. Of course you could be causally connected to a name and not even realise that it was a name, so something more is needed. |
468 | 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? |