7 ideas
15970 | People generalise because it is easier to understand, and that is mistaken for deep philosophy [Feynman] |
Full Idea: The topic of the laws of nature has a tendency to become too philosophical because it becomes too general, and a person talks in such generalities, that everybody can understand him. It is then considered to be some deep philosophy. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], 1) | |
A reaction: Feynman was famously anti-philosophical, but this is a good challenge. I like philosophy because I want to know broad general truths about my world, but I may just be gravitating towards what is easier. The challenge is to get true generalities. |
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'). |
9410 | Physical Laws are rhythms and patterns in nature, revealed by analysis [Feynman] |
Full Idea: There is a rhythm and a pattern between the phenomena of nature which is not apparent to the eye, but only to the eye of analysis; and it is these rhythms and patterns which we call Physical Laws. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], Ch.1) |
18530 | Nobody understands quantum mechanics [Feynman] |
Full Idea: I think I can safely say the nobody understands quantum mechanics. | |
From: Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], 6) | |
A reaction: It is really important that philosophers grasp this point! |
17707 | We should regard space as made up of many tiny pieces [Feynman, by Mares] |
Full Idea: Feynman claims that we should regard space as made up of many tiny pieces, which have positive length, width and depth. | |
From: report of Richard P. Feynman (The Character of Physical Law [1965], p.166) by Edwin D. Mares - A Priori 06.7 | |
A reaction: The idea seems to be these are the minimum bits of space in which something can happen. |
1474 | Moral evil may be acceptable to God because it allows free will (even though we don't see why this is necessary) [Plantinga, by PG] |
Full Idea: Moral evil may be acceptable to a benevolent God because it is the only way to allow genuine free will, which may have a supreme value in creation (even if we are unsure what it is). | |
From: report of Alvin Plantinga (Free Will Defence [1965], Pref.) by PG - Db (ideas) |
1475 | It is logically possible that natural evil like earthquakes is caused by Satan [Plantinga, by PG] |
Full Idea: Physical evil (e.g. earthquakes) may be attributable to a fallen angel (Satan), who is the enemy of God, and this is enough to retain the idea that God is omnipotent and benevolent, and yet evil exists. | |
From: report of Alvin Plantinga (Free Will Defence [1965], III) by PG - Db (ideas) |