Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'On Motion', 'Advice to a Young Tradesman' and 'Letters to De Vries'

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4 ideas

9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 14. Knowledge of Essences

4869	Experience does not teach us any essences of things [Spinoza]
	Full Idea: Experience does not teach us any essences of things.
	From: Baruch de Spinoza (Letters to De Vries [1664], 1664?)
	A reaction: This, along with Leibniz's claim that experience cannot reveal necessities, may constitute a striking criticism of empiricism, but it invites the obvious reply 'so much the worse for essences'. An essence seems to be a theoretical concept, not a priori.

23. Ethics / B. Contract Ethics / 8. Contract Strategies

20721	Punctuality and justice in dealings are excellent for raising a man in the world [Franklin]
	Full Idea: After industry and frugality, nothing contributes more to raising a young man in the world than punctuality and justice in all his dealings.
	From: Benjamin Franklin (Advice to a Young Tradesman [1748], p.87-), quoted by Max Weber - The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism 2
	A reaction: A perfect illustration of the self-interest that drives morality in the social contract view.

24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 11. Capitalism

20720	Time is money, ..credit is money, ..and money breeds more money [Franklin]
	Full Idea: Remember that time is money, …and that credit is money, …and that money can beget money.
	From: Benjamin Franklin (Advice to a Young Tradesman [1748], p.87-), quoted by Max Weber - The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism 2
	A reaction: [snippets] A wonderful quotation rescued by Max Weber, showing that Franklin understood capitalism with crystal clarity, before it had even barely begun

27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 1. Relativity / a. Special relativity

12709	Motion is not absolute, but consists in relation [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: In reality motion is not something absolute, but consists in relation.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (On Motion [1677], A6.4.1968), quoted by Daniel Garber - Leibniz:Body,Substance,Monad 3
	A reaction: It is often thought that motion being relative was invented by Einstein, but Leibniz wholeheartedly embraced 'Galilean relativity', and refused to even consider any absolute concept of motion. Acceleration is a bit trickier than velocity.