Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'fragments/reports', 'Real Essence' and '06: Epistle to the Romans'

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4 ideas

2. Reason / D. Definition / 4. Real Definition

16030	'Nominal' definitions identify things, but fail to give their essence [Jones,J-E]
	Full Idea: In the Aristotelian tradition, a 'nominal' definition is a pseudo-definition that identifies the members of the species or genus, but fails to capture the essence, e.g. 'man is the featherless biped'.
	From: Jan-Erik Jones (Real Essence [2012], §2)
	A reaction: You can 'individuate' an object as 'the only object in that drawer', while revealing nothing about it. So what must a definition do, in addition to picking something out uniquely?

12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 3. Innate Knowledge / a. Innate knowledge

5052	When Gentiles follow the law, they must have the law written in their hearts [Paul]
	Full Idea: When the Gentiles which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves, which shew the works of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness.
	From: St Paul (06: Epistle to the Romans [c.55], 02.15)
	A reaction: This passage was used by theologians as proof of innate ideas, which are, of course, divinely implanted (in the guise of doing things 'by nature'). It is quoted by Leibniz. Thus Christians annexed credit for pagan morality to God.

13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 2. Knowledge as Convention

1556	By nature people are close to one another, but culture drives them apart [Hippias]
	Full Idea: I regard you all as relatives - by nature, not by convention. By nature like is akin to like, but convention is a tyrant over humankind and often constrains people to act contrary to nature.
	From: Hippias (fragments/reports [c.430 BCE]), quoted by Plato - Protagoras 337c8

24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 10. Theocracy

7572	Power is ordained by God, so anyone who resists power resists God, and will be damned [Paul]
	Full Idea: Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained by God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
	From: St Paul (06: Epistle to the Romans [c.55], 13:1-2)
	A reaction: This notorious passage was used to justify the Divine Right of Kings in England in the seventeenth century. It strikes me as being utterly preposterous, though you might say that violent resistance to an evil dictator only brings worse evil.