Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Positivism and Realism', 'The Principles of Science' and 'Advice to a Young Tradesman'

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4 ideas

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 7. Against Metaphysics

13737	The empiricist says that metaphysics is meaningless, rather than false [Schlick]
	Full Idea: The empiricist does not say to the metaphysician 'what you say is false', but 'what you say asserts nothing at all!' He does not contradict him, but says 'I don't understand you'.
	From: Moritz Schlick (Positivism and Realism [1934], p.107), quoted by Jonathan Schaffer - On What Grounds What 1.1
	A reaction: I take metaphysics to be meaningful, but at such a high level of abstraction that it is easy to drift into vague nonsense, and incredibly hard to assess what is meant, and whether it is correct. The truths of metaphysics are not recursive.

6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 6. Logicism / a. Early logicism

8628	I hold that algebra and number are developments of logic [Jevons]
	Full Idea: I hold that algebra is a highly developed logic, and number but logical discrimination.
	From: William S. Jevons (The Principles of Science [1879], p.156), quoted by Gottlob Frege - Grundlagen der Arithmetik (Foundations) §15
	A reaction: Thus Frege shows that logicism was an idea that was in the air before he started writing. Riemann's geometry and Boole's logic presumably had some influence here.

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