6349
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I can prove a hand exists, by holding one up, pointing to it, and saying 'here is one hand' [Moore,GE]
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Full Idea:
I can prove now that two human hands exist. How? By holding up my two hands, and saying, as I make a certain gesture with the right hand, 'Here is one hand', and adding, as I gesture with the left, 'and here is another'.
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From:
G.E. Moore (Proof of an External World [1939], p.1)
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A reaction:
The words need to be spoken, presumably, so that what he is doing fits into the linguistic conventions of what will normally be accepted as a proof. In fact, just holding the hand up seems enough. The proof begs the question of virtual reality.
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23674
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If an attempted poisoning results in benefits, we still judge the agent a poisoner [Reid]
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Full Idea:
If a man should give to his neighbour a potion which he really believes will poison him, but which, in the event, proves salutary, and does much good; in moral estimation, he is a poisoner, and not a benefactor.
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From:
Thomas Reid (Essays on Active Powers 3: Princs of action [1788], 5)
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A reaction:
I take Reid to mean that morality concerns how we assess the agent, and not the results of his actions. Mill and Bentham concede that we judge people this way, but don't think morality mainly concerns judging people.
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23673
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Every worthy man has a principle of honour, and knows what is honourable [Reid]
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Full Idea:
I presume it will be granted, that, in every man of real worth, there is a principle of honour, a regard to what is honourable or dishonourable, very distinct from a regard to his interest.
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From:
Thomas Reid (Essays on Active Powers 3: Princs of action [1788], 5)
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A reaction:
Note that there is a 'principle' of honour in a person's character, and there are also actions which are intrinsically honourable or not. I fear that only the worthy are honourable, and only the honourable are worthy!
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