Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Through the Looking Glass', 'Metaphysics' and 'On Copernicanism and Relativity of Motion'

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4 ideas

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

13157	Choose the true hypothesis, which is the most intelligible one [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: One should choose the more intelligible hypothesis, and the truth is nothing but its intelligibility.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (On Copernicanism and Relativity of Motion [1689], p.91)
	A reaction: This apparently simple observation strikes me as being rather profound. Our picture of the world is shaped entirely by what is intelligible to us. An odd notion of truth, though. The age of reason. See Idea 13158.

7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / e. Being and nothing

21982	I only wish I had such eyes as to see Nobody! It's as much as I can do to see real people. [Carroll,L]
	Full Idea: "I see nobody on the road," said Alice. - "I only wish I had such eyes," the King remarked. ..."To be able to see Nobody! ...Why, it's as much as I can do to see real people."
	From: Lewis Carroll (C.Dodgson) (Through the Looking Glass [1886], p.189), quoted by A.W. Moore - The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics 07.7
	A reaction: [Moore quotes this, inevitably, in a chapter on Hegel] This may be a better candidate for the birth of philosophy of language than Frege's Groundwork.

7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 8. Stuff / a. Pure stuff

16771	A composite is a true unity if all of its parts fall under one essence [Scheibler]
	Full Idea: A composite entity is a unum per se if the partial entities that are in it are contained under one common essence. …In water, all those parts are contained under one essence of water.
	From: Chistoph Scheibler (Metaphysics [1650], I.4.1 n9), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671
	A reaction: Water mixed with wine is said to be an 'ens per accidens'. This is an unusual but possible view, that all the water there is is a single thing, united by its compositional essence. When we talk about 'water', we include possible water, and past water.

14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / a. Best explanation

13158	The Copernican theory is right because it is the only one offering a good explanation [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: The Copernican account is the truest theory, that is, the most intelligible theory and the only one capable of an explanation sufficient for a person of sound reason.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (On Copernicanism and Relativity of Motion [1689], p.92)
	A reaction: The word 'intelligible' here seems to be linked to the notion of a best explanation.