Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'On Aristotle's Metaphysics Book 2' and 'Pacidius Philalethi dialogue'

unexpand these ideas     |    start again     |     specify just one area for these texts

---

3 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined

23367	Even pointing a finger should only be done for a reason [Epictetus]
	Full Idea: Philosophy says it is not right even to stretch out a finger without some reason.
	From: Epictetus (fragments/reports [c.57], 15)
	A reaction: The key point here is that philosophy concerns action, an idea on which Epictetus is very keen. He rather despise theory. This idea perfectly sums up the concept of the wholly rational life (which no rational person would actually want to live!).

9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / a. Parts of objects

12697	Indivisibles are not parts, but the extrema of parts [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: Indivisibles are not parts, but the extrema of parts.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (Pacidius Philalethi dialogue [1676], A6.3.565-6), quoted by Daniel Garber - Leibniz:Body,Substance,Monad 1
	A reaction: This is incipient monadology, that the bottom level of division ceases to be parts of a thing, and arrives at a different order of entity, to explain the parts of things. Leibniz denies that this subdivision comes down to points.

26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 6. Early Matter Theories / g. Atomism

20919	How can things without weight compose weight? [Alexander]
	Full Idea: How could weight come about out of things composed of what is without weight?
	From: Alexander (On Aristotle's Metaphysics Book 2 [c.200], p.36.21-27)
	A reaction: This is obviously why Epicurus added weight to the features of atoms. Alexander seems unaware of this move.