Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Fragments and accounts of Gorgias', 'works' and 'A Short History of German Philosophy'

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3 ideas

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 3. Metaphysical Systems
Early Romantics sought a plurality of systems, in a quest for freedom [Hösle]
     Full Idea: It was an early Romantic idea that there is necessarily a plurality of systems in which individuality is expressed; for a complete system would destroy freedom.
     From: Vittorio Hösle (A Short History of German Philosophy [2013], 7)
     A reaction: I'm not clear why you are free because you are locked into system that differs from that of other people. True freedom seems to be either no system, or continually remaking one's own system. Why is such freedom valuable? Freedom v truth?
1. Philosophy / G. Scientific Philosophy / 3. Scientism
Philosophy is not separate from or above empirical science [Neurath]
     Full Idea: There is no such thing as philosophy as a basic or universal science alongside or above the various fields of the one empirical science.
     From: Otto Neurath (works [1930]), quoted by Simon Critchley - Continental Philosophy - V. Short Intro Ch.6
     A reaction: This is what you get for becoming an empiricist. If philosophy is the quest for human wisdom, it seems to me highly unlikely that physical sciences will provide it. Human interests and values and understanding play absolutely no role in physics.
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 5. Education / d. Study of history
In the 18th century history came to be seen as progressive, rather than cyclical [Hösle]
     Full Idea: The turning point in the history of the philosophy of history occurs in the eighteenth century, when the ancient cyclical model of Vico is superseded by the idea of progress.
     From: Vittorio Hösle (A Short History of German Philosophy [2013], 6)
     A reaction: He says that Hegel merely inherited this progressive view, rather than creating it. I'm not sure how widely held the cyclical view was. I don't recognise it in Shakespeare. Science and technology must have suggested progress.