16030
|
'Nominal' definitions identify things, but fail to give their essence [Jones,J-E]
|
|
Full Idea:
In the Aristotelian tradition, a 'nominal' definition is a pseudo-definition that identifies the members of the species or genus, but fails to capture the essence, e.g. 'man is the featherless biped'.
|
|
From:
Jan-Erik Jones (Real Essence [2012], §2)
|
|
A reaction:
You can 'individuate' an object as 'the only object in that drawer', while revealing nothing about it. So what must a definition do, in addition to picking something out uniquely?
|
7675
|
Schiller speaks obsessively of freedom throughout his works [Schiller, by Berlin]
|
|
Full Idea:
Schiller constantly speaks of spiritual freedom: freedom of reason, the kingdom of freedom, our free self, inner freedom, freedom of mind, moral freedom, the free intelligence - a very favourite phrase - holy freedom, the impregnable citadel of freedom.
|
|
From:
report of Friedrich Schiller (works [1794]) by Isaiah Berlin - The Roots of Romanticism
|
|
A reaction:
Kant's philosophy and his Kingdom of Ends are an obvious source for this, but I trace the sentiment back to 'Freeborn John' Lilburne during the English Civil War. The English, thanks to Voltaire, embodied freedom in the Enlightenment.
|