Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Mahaprajnaparamitashastra', 'New Foundations for Mathematical Logic' 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.

4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / a. Axioms for sets

9879	NF has no models, but just blocks the comprehension axiom, to avoid contradictions [Quine, by Dummett]
	Full Idea: Quine's New Foundations system of set theory, devised with no model in mind, but on the basis of a hunch that a purely formal restriction on the comprehension axiom would block all contradictions.
	From: report of Willard Quine (New Foundations for Mathematical Logic [1937]) by Michael Dummett - Frege philosophy of mathematics Ch.18
	A reaction: The point is that Quine (who had an ontological preference for 'desert landscapes') attempted to do without an ontological commitment to objects (and their subsequent models), with a purely formal system. Quine's NF is not now highly regarded.

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.

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').