6 ideas
15970 | People generalise because it is easier to understand, and that is mistaken for deep philosophy [Feynman] |
Full Idea: The topic of the laws of nature has a tendency to become too philosophical because it becomes too general, and a person talks in such generalities, that everybody can understand him. It is then considered to be some deep philosophy. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], 1) | |
A reaction: Feynman was famously anti-philosophical, but this is a good challenge. I like philosophy because I want to know broad general truths about my world, but I may just be gravitating towards what is easier. The challenge is to get true generalities. |
8212 | Everything that is experienced in consciousness is meaning [Derrida] |
Full Idea: All experience is the experience of meaning (Sinn). Everything that appears to consciousness, everything that is for consciousness in general, is meaning. | |
From: Jacques Derrida (Semiology and Grammatology [1968], p.26) | |
A reaction: This an assertion, from a quite different philosophical tradition, of the centrality of linguistic meaning in philosophy. It links with the centrality of intentionality in our understanding of the mind. |
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? |
9410 | Physical Laws are rhythms and patterns in nature, revealed by analysis [Feynman] |
Full Idea: There is a rhythm and a pattern between the phenomena of nature which is not apparent to the eye, but only to the eye of analysis; and it is these rhythms and patterns which we call Physical Laws. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], Ch.1) |
18530 | Nobody understands quantum mechanics [Feynman] |
Full Idea: I think I can safely say the nobody understands quantum mechanics. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], 6) | |
A reaction: It is really important that philosophers grasp this point! |
17707 | We should regard space as made up of many tiny pieces [Feynman, by Mares] |
Full Idea: Feynman claims that we should regard space as made up of many tiny pieces, which have positive length, width and depth. | |
From: report of Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], p.166) by Edwin D. Mares - A Priori 06.7 | |
A reaction: The idea seems to be these are the minimum bits of space in which something can happen. |