Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Brainstorms:Essays on Mind and Psychology', 'Economy and Society' and 'The Foundations of Mathematics (2nd ed)'

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4 ideas

8. Modes of Existence / A. Relations / 4. Formal Relations / b. Equivalence relation

18465	An 'equivalence' relation is one which is reflexive, symmetric and transitive [Kunen]
	Full Idea: R is an equivalence relation on A iff R is reflexive, symmetric and transitive on A.
	From: Kenneth Kunen (The Foundations of Mathematics (2nd ed) [2012], I.7.1)

15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 4. Intentionality / b. Intentionality theories

3158	Theories of intentionality presuppose rationality, so can't explain it [Dennett]
	Full Idea: Intentional theory is vacuous as psychology because it presupposes and does not explain rationality or intelligence.
	From: Daniel C. Dennett (Brainstorms:Essays on Mind and Psychology [1978], p.15?)
	A reaction: Virtually every philosophical theory seems to founder because it presupposes something like the thing it is meant to explain. I agree that 'intentionality' is a slightly airy concept that would probably reduce to something better.

17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 3. Intentional Stance

3159	Beliefs and desires aren't real; they are prediction techniques [Dennett]
	Full Idea: Intentional systems don't really have beliefs and desires, but one can explain and predict their behaviour by ascribing beliefs and desires to them. This strategy is pragmatic, not right or wrong.
	From: Daniel C. Dennett (Brainstorms:Essays on Mind and Psychology [1978], p.7?)
	A reaction: If the ascription of beliefs and desires explains behaviour, then that is good grounds for thinking they might be real features of the brain, and even if that is not so, they are real enough as abstractions from brain events, like the 'economic climate'.

24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 1. Social Power

21132	Domination is probable obedience by some group of persons [Weber]
	Full Idea: Domination is the probability that a command with a specific content will be obeyed by a given group of persons.
	From: Max Weber (Economy and Society [1919], p.53), quoted by Andrew Shorten - Contemporary Political Theory 06
	A reaction: Said to be an 'influential definition'. In principle you might have no domination, but be regularly obeyed because your commands were so acceptable to a very independent-minded group of people. That said, good definition!