Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia' and 'Animal Rights talk'

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

---

4 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!).

1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 2. Analysis by Division

13099	Analysing right down to primitive concepts seems beyond our powers [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: An analysis of concepts such that we can reach primitive concepts...does not seem to be within human power.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia [1679], C513-14), quoted by Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J - Substance and Individuation in Leibniz
	A reaction: Leibniz is nevertheless fully committed, I think, to the existence of such primitives, and is in the grip of the rationalist dream that thoughts can become completely clear, and completely well-founded.

3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 8. Subjective Truth

5022	We hold a proposition true if we are ready to follow it, and can't see any objections [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: A proposition is held to be true by us when our mind is ready to follow it and no reason for doubting it can be found.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia [1679], p.7)
	A reaction: This follows on from Descartes' view, but it now sounds more like psychology than metaphysics. Clearly a false proposition could fit this desciption. Personally I follow propositions to which I can see no objection, without actually holding them true.

25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 1. Basis of Rights

5064	Rights are moral significance, or liberty, or right not to be restrained, or entitlement [Mawson]
	Full Idea: A 'right' can mean 'x counts morally', or 'x is permitted to do this' (liberty), or 'x can't be stopped from doing this' (negative right), or 'someone should provide this for x'.
	From: Tim Mawson (Animal Rights talk [2003]), quoted by PG - lecture notes
	A reaction: A useful analysis. It is a useful preliminary to considering whether any of these are natural rights. Personally I am sympathetic to that concept. You cannot deny a person's right to self-defence, even when you are sitting on them. Persons have rights.