Combining Texts

All the ideas for '67: Platonic Questions', 'Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia' and 'Of Grammatology'

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4 ideas

1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 2. Analysis by Division

13099	Analysing right down to primitive concepts seems beyond our powers [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: An analysis of concepts such that we can reach primitive concepts...does not seem to be within human power.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia [1679], C513-14), quoted by Cover,J/O'Leary-Hawthorne,J - Substance and Individuation in Leibniz
	A reaction: Leibniz is nevertheless fully committed, I think, to the existence of such primitives, and is in the grip of the rationalist dream that thoughts can become completely clear, and completely well-founded.

3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 8. Subjective Truth

5022	We hold a proposition true if we are ready to follow it, and can't see any objections [Leibniz]
	Full Idea: A proposition is held to be true by us when our mind is ready to follow it and no reason for doubting it can be found.
	From: Gottfried Leibniz (Introduction to a Secret Encyclopaedia [1679], p.7)
	A reaction: This follows on from Descartes' view, but it now sounds more like psychology than metaphysics. Clearly a false proposition could fit this desciption. Personally I follow propositions to which I can see no objection, without actually holding them true.

15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 2. Psuche

5960	When the soul is intelligent and harmonious, it is part of god and derives from god [Plutarch]
	Full Idea: The soul, when it has partaken of intelligence and reason and concord, is not merely a work but also a part of god and has come to be not by his agency but both from him as source and out of his substance.
	From: Plutarch (67: Platonic Questions [c.85], II.1001)
	A reaction: A most intriguing shift of view from earlier concepts of the psuché. How did this come about? This man is a pagan. The history is in the evolution of Platonism. See 'The Middle Platonists' by John Dillon. Davidson is also very impressed by reason.

19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 9. Ambiguity

21929	Derrida focuses on ambiguity, but talks of 'dissemination', not traditional multiple meanings [Derrida]
	Full Idea: Derrida affirms something like an 'ambiguity of meaning'. But he explicitly contrasts the word he uses to characterize the phenomenon at issue, what he calls 'dissemination', with the traditional concept of 'polysemia' - multiple meanings.
	From: Jacques Derrida (Of Grammatology [1967]), quoted by Simon Glendinning - Derrida: A Very Short Introduction 2 'After'
	A reaction: The point, I presume, is that there is vagueness and elision to the meanings, rather than a list of options, such as bank/bank. Context (sense-making paths) is crucial for Derrida. Can the analytic apparatus for the logic of vagueness be brought to bear?