Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Aesthetica' and 'On 'Generation and Corruption''

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5 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined
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!).
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / d. Secondary qualities
Changes in secondary qualities are caused by changes in primary qualities [Giles of Orleans]
     Full Idea: Every alteration in secondary qualities is caused by some alteration made in the primary qualities.
     From: Giles of Orleans (On 'Generation and Corruption' [1270], I.6c)
     A reaction: Pasnau calls this the 'supervenience' thesis, here with the addition of causation. Was this doctrine retained by Locke and Boyle?
21. Aesthetics / A. Aesthetic Experience / 1. Aesthetics
Baumgarten founded aesthetics in 1750 [Baumgarten, by Tolstoy]
     Full Idea: Baumgarten founded aesthetics in the year 1750.
     From: report of Alexander Baumgarten (Aesthetica [1739]) by Leo Tolstoy - What is Art? Ch.2
     A reaction: He gave it a label, separated it off from the rest of philosophy, and made taste the main focus. The philosophy of art goes back to at least Plato's 'Republic' and 'Symposium'.
21. Aesthetics / B. Nature of Art / 2. Art as Form
Beauty is an order between parts, and in relation to the whole [Baumgarten, by Tolstoy]
     Full Idea: Beauty is defined by Baumgarten as a correspondence, that is, an order of parts in their mutual relations to each other and in their relation to the whole.
     From: report of Alexander Baumgarten (Aesthetica [1739]) by Leo Tolstoy - What is Art? Ch.3
     A reaction: This may be one aspect of what is beautiful, but rather more than a nice arrangement is probably needed for art. We must distinguish flower arranging from poetic drama. Some masterpieces are rather messily arranged.
22. Metaethics / C. The Good / 1. Goodness / b. Types of good
Perfection comes through the senses (Beauty), through reason (Truth), and through moral will (Good) [Baumgarten, by Tolstoy]
     Full Idea: For Baumgarten, Beauty is the Perfect (the Absolute), recognised through the senses; Truth is the Perfect perceived through reason; Goodness is the Perfect reached by moral will.
     From: report of Alexander Baumgarten (Aesthetica [1739]) by Leo Tolstoy - What is Art? Ch.3
     A reaction: At last, after many years of searching, I have found the origin of that great trio of ideals: Beauty, Goodness and Truth. Tolstoy sneers at them, but a person could do a lot worse than spending their lives trying to promote them.