|
11175
|
Logical concepts rest on certain inferences, not on facts about implications [Fine,K]
|
|
Full Idea:
The nature of the logical concepts is given, not by certain logical truths, but by certain logical inferences. What properly belongs to disjunction is the inference from p to (p or q), rather than the fact that p implies (p or q).
|
|
From:
Kit Fine (Senses of Essence [1995], §3)
|
|
A reaction:
Does this mean that Fine is wickedly starting with the psychology, rather than with the pure truth of the connection? Frege is shuddering. This view seems to imply that the truth table for 'or' is secondary.
|
|
11176
|
The property of Property Abstraction says any suitable condition must imply a property [Fine,K]
|
|
Full Idea:
According to the principle of Property Abstraction, there is, for any suitable condition, a property that is possessed by an object just in case it conforms to the condition. This is usually taken to be a second-order logical truth.
|
|
From:
Kit Fine (Senses of Essence [1995], §4)
|
|
A reaction:
Fine objects that it is implied that if Socrates is essentially a man, then he essentially has the property of being a man. Like Fine, I think this conclusion is distasteful. A classification is not a property, at least the way most people use 'property'.
|
|
11173
|
Being a man is a consequence of his essence, not constitutive of it [Fine,K]
|
|
Full Idea:
If we distinguish 'constitutive' from 'consequential' essence, ..then the essence of Socrates will, in part, be constituted by his being a man. But being a man (or a mountain) will merely be consequential upon, and not constitutive of, his essence.
|
|
From:
Kit Fine (Senses of Essence [1995], §3)
|
|
A reaction:
Yes yes yes. I think it is absurd to say that the class to which something belongs is part of its essential nature, given that it presumably can only belong to the class if it already has a certain essential nature. What did Frankenstein construct?
|
|
11179
|
If there are alternative definitions, then we have three possibilities for essence [Fine,K]
|
|
Full Idea:
If there are alternative definitions for an essence, we must distinguish three notions. There is the essence as the manifold (the combined definitions), or as the range of alternative definitions (with component essences), or there is the common essence.
|
|
From:
Kit Fine (Senses of Essence [1995], §8)
|
|
A reaction:
Fine opts for the third alternative (what the definitions all have in common) as the best account. He says (p.68) 'definitive' properties come from one definition, and 'essential' properties from every possible definition.
|
|
23674
|
If an attempted poisoning results in benefits, we still judge the agent a poisoner [Reid]
|
|
Full Idea:
If a man should give to his neighbour a potion which he really believes will poison him, but which, in the event, proves salutary, and does much good; in moral estimation, he is a poisoner, and not a benefactor.
|
|
From:
Thomas Reid (Essays on Active Powers 3: Princs of action [1788], 5)
|
|
A reaction:
I take Reid to mean that morality concerns how we assess the agent, and not the results of his actions. Mill and Bentham concede that we judge people this way, but don't think morality mainly concerns judging people.
|
|
23673
|
Every worthy man has a principle of honour, and knows what is honourable [Reid]
|
|
Full Idea:
I presume it will be granted, that, in every man of real worth, there is a principle of honour, a regard to what is honourable or dishonourable, very distinct from a regard to his interest.
|
|
From:
Thomas Reid (Essays on Active Powers 3: Princs of action [1788], 5)
|
|
A reaction:
Note that there is a 'principle' of honour in a person's character, and there are also actions which are intrinsically honourable or not. I fear that only the worthy are honourable, and only the honourable are worthy!
|