Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Mahaprajnaparamitashastra', 'On 'Generation and Corruption'' and 'Review of Bob Hale's 'Abstract Objects''

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4 ideas

1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 4. Conceptual Analysis
9184 We can't presume that all interesting concepts can be analysed [Williamson]
     Full Idea: We have no prior reason to suppose that philosophically significant concepts have interesting analyses into necessary and sufficient conditions.
     From: Timothy Williamson (Review of Bob Hale's 'Abstract Objects' [1988])
     A reaction: We might think that they are either analysable or primitive, and that failure of analysis invites us to take a concept as primitive. But maybe God can analyse it and we can't.
6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 1. Mathematical Platonism / a. For mathematical platonism
9183 Platonism claims that some true assertions have singular terms denoting abstractions, so abstractions exist [Williamson]
     Full Idea: The Fregean argument for platonism is that some true assertions contain singular terms which denote abstract objects if they denote anything; since the assertions are true, the singular terms denote.
     From: Timothy Williamson (Review of Bob Hale's 'Abstract Objects' [1988])
     A reaction: I am perplexed that anyone would rest their view of reality on such an argument. The obvious comparison would be with true remarks about blatantly fictional characters, or blatantly invented concepts such as 'checkmate'.
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 2. Qualities in Perception / c. Primary qualities
16718 Primary qualities are the cause of all the other sensible qualities [Albertus Magnus]
     Full Idea: The primary qualities of tangible things are the cause of all the other sensible qualities.
     From: Albertus Magnus (On 'Generation and Corruption' [1261], II.1.1), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 21.2
     A reaction: This makes the primary qualities sound suspiciously like the essence.
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / a. Virtues
7903 The six perfections are giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom [Nagarjuna]
     Full Idea: The six perfections are of giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom.
     From: Nagarjuna (Mahaprajnaparamitashastra [c.120], 88)
     A reaction: What is 'morality', if giving is not part of it? I like patience and vigour being two of the virtues, which immediately implies an Aristotelian mean (which is always what is 'appropriate').