6 ideas
21962 | Metaphysics is the roots of the tree of science [Descartes] |
Full Idea: The whole of philosophy is like a tree. The roots are metaphysics, the trunk is physics, and the branches emerging from the trunk are all the other sciences. | |
From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647]), quoted by A.W. Moore - The Evolution of Modern Metaphysics 01.2 | |
A reaction: If Descartes had not believed this he would not have bothered with metaphysics, and philosophy might have been dead by 1650. |
3659 | I know the truth that God exists and is the author of truth [Descartes] |
Full Idea: I have very clearly deduced the following truths, that there is a God who is the author of all that is in the world, and who is the source of all truth. | |
From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647], p.180) |
3657 | Understanding, not the senses, gives certainty [Descartes] |
Full Idea: Certainty is not in the sense but in the understanding alone, when it has evident perceptions. | |
From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647], p.177) |
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'). |
1460 | Religious experience deserves the same respect as our other key experiences, and is best called 'holy' [Taylor,AE, by PG] |
Full Idea: We respect the religious experience of others in a similar way to our respect for their artistic or sense experiences, and the quality which makes them seem authentic can only be called 'holy'. | |
From: report of A.E. Taylor (Vindication of Religion (extract) [1926], III) by PG - Db (ideas) |
3660 | Atheism arises from empiricism, because God is intangible [Descartes] |
Full Idea: The existence of God has been doubted by some, because they attributed too much to the perceptions of the senses, and God can be neither seen nor touched. | |
From: René Descartes (Preface to 'Principles of Philosophy' [1647], p.180) |