Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', '23: First Epistle of John' and 'The Intentionality of Sensation'

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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!).
15. Nature of Minds / B. Features of Minds / 5. Qualia / b. Qualia and intentionality
7439 The qualities involved in sensations are entirely intentional [Anscombe, by Armstrong]
     Full Idea: Anscombe argued that the qualities involved in sensations are one and all intentional only (and I think this holds even for the bodily sensations).
     From: report of G.E.M. Anscombe (The Intentionality of Sensation [1965]) by David M. Armstrong - Pref to new 'Materialist Theory' p.xxii
     A reaction: Compare Harry Gildersleve's exactly opposite proposal in Idea 7272. I think I am coming round to the Anscombe view, which builds the more mysterious up from the less mysterious. Gildersleve must explain how atomic qualia arise.
28. God / A. Divine Nature / 6. Divine Morality / c. God is the good
8140 God is love [John]
     Full Idea: God is love.
     From: St John (23: First Epistle of John [c.90], 4.16)
     A reaction: Used by Ayer as an example of meaningless religious language (see Idea 5209). One might translate it as 'the existence of God is a necessary condition for the existence of love in the universe'. Like matter is needed for gravity. Not totally meaningless!
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 1. Religious Commitment / a. Religious Belief
8139 If you love the world, then you do not love the Father [John]
     Full Idea: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
     From: St John (23: First Epistle of John [c.90], 2.15)
     A reaction: This strikes me as an essentially wicked teaching, and one step on the road to suicide. The rejection of life is the worst aspect of all religions - surely it is obvious that we should try to make the best of life, not turn our backs on it?