Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'works', 'talk' and 'Internalism and Externalism: a History'

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23 ideas

5. Theory of Logic / E. Structures of Logic / 5. Functions in Logic
15105 F(x) walked into a bar. The barman said.. [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: F(x) walked into a bar. The barman said, 'Sorry, we don't cater for functions'.
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 3. Being / d. Non-being
12408 Sartre to Waitress: Coffee with no cream, please... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: Sartre to Waitress: Coffee with no cream, please. Waitress: Sorry, we're out of cream; would no milk do?
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism
12397 Said Plato: 'The things that we feel... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: Said Plato: 'The things that we feel/ Are not ontologically real,/ But just the excrescence/ Of numinous essence/ Our senses can never reveal.' [Basil Ransome-Davis]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
11. Knowledge Aims / B. Certain Knowledge / 5. Cogito Critique
12407 Barman to Descartes: Would you like another drink?... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: Barman to Descartes: Would you like another drink? Descartes: I think not (...and promptly vanishes)
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
12399 There was a young student called Fred... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: There was a young student called Fred,/ Who was questioned on Descartes and said:/ 'It's perfectly clear/ That I'm not really here,/ For I haven't a thought in my head.' [V.R. Ormerod]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 2. Phenomenalism
20963 A philosopher and his wife are out for a drive... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: A philosopher and his wife are out for a drive in the country. 'Oh look!' she says, 'Those sheep have been shorn.' 'Yes', says the philosopher, 'on this side'.
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
11. Knowledge Aims / C. Knowing Reality / 3. Idealism / c. Empirical idealism
12404 Dear Sir, Your astonishment's odd.... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: (reply to 12403) Dear Sir, Your astonishment's odd:/ I am always about in the Quad./ And that's why the tree/ Will continue to be,/ Since observed by Yours faithfully, God.' [anon]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
12403 There once was a man who said: 'God... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: There once was a man who said: 'God/ Must think it exceedingly odd/ If he finds that this tree/ Continues to be,/ When there's no-one about in the Quad.' [Ronald Knox] (reply in 12404)
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
12402 ..But if he's a student of Berkeley... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: (continued from 12401) ..But if he's a student of Berkeley,/ One thing will emerge, rather starkly,/ That he ought to believe/ What his senses perceive,/ No matter how dimly or darkly. [Leslie Johnson]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
12409 The philosopher Berkeley once said.. [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: The philosopher Berkeley once said/ In the dark to a maid in his bed:/ 'No perception, my dear,/ Means I'm not really here,/ But only a thought in your head.' [P.W.R. Foot]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
12. Knowledge Sources / B. Perception / 1. Perception
14694 "My dog's got synaesthesia." How does he smell? ..... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: "My dog's got synaesthesia." How does he smell? "Purple."
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
13. Knowledge Criteria / C. External Justification / 1. External Justification
4254 Externalist accounts of knowledge do not require the traditional sort of justification [Kornblith]
     Full Idea: What is distinctive about externalist accounts of knowledge is that they do not require justification, at least in the traditional sense.
     From: Hilary Kornblith (Internalism and Externalism: a History [2001], p.2)
     A reaction: At least this gives animals the chance to know things, but I suspect that they never get beyond true beliefs. I'm sure humans have 'better' knowledge than animals.
13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism
12401 A toper who spies in the distance... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: A toper who spies in the distance,/ Striped tigers, will get some assistance/ From reading Descartes,/ Who holds that it's part/ Of his duty to doubt their existence. ... [Leslie Johnson] - (continued in 12402)
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
16. Persons / F. Free Will / 6. Determinism / a. Determinism
12410 There once was a man who said 'Damn!... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: There once was a man who said 'Damn!/ It is borne in upon me I am/ An engine that moves/ In predestinate grooves:/ I'm not even a bus, I'm a tram.' [M.E. Hare]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
17. Mind and Body / B. Behaviourism / 4. Behaviourism Critique
9392 How do behaviourists greet each other? [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: How do behaviourists greet each other? Hi - you're fine, how am I?
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / d. Elites
12405 'If you're aristocratic,' said Nietzsche... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: 'If you're aristocratic,' said Nietzsche,/ 'It's thumbs up, you're OK. Pleased to mietzsche./ If you're working-class bores,/ It's thumbs down and up yours!/ If you don't know your place, then I'll tietzsche.' [Gerry Hamill]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 2. Anarchism
9391 Why do anarchists drink herbal tea? [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: Why do anarchists drink herbal tea? Because proper tea is theft.
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
26. Natural Theory / C. Causation / 9. General Causation / a. Constant conjunction
12400 Cries the maid: 'You must marry me Hume!'... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: Cries the maid: 'You must marry me Hume!'/ A statement that made David fume./ He said: 'In cause and effect,/ There is a defect;/ That it's mine you can only assume.' [P.W.R. Foot]
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
16527 Causation - we all thought we knew it/ Till Hume came along and saw through it/…. [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: Causation - we all thought we knew it / Till Hume came along and saw through it / We notice that A / Follows B every day / And frankly that's all there is to it.
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 1. Nature of Time / c. Idealist time
17592 The barman called 'Time!', and Augustine said..... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: The barman called 'Time!'. Augustine: 'I don't know what you mean, though I did before you said that'.
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
27. Natural Reality / D. Time / 2. Passage of Time / c. Tenses and time
15208 The past, present and future walked into a bar.... [Sommers,W]
     Full Idea: The past, present and future walked into a bar. It was tense.
     From: Will Sommers (talk [2019])
29. Religion / B. Monotheistic Religion / 4. Christianity / d. Heresy
16713 Philosophers are the forefathers of heretics [Tertullian]
     Full Idea: Philosophers are the forefathers of heretics.
     From: Tertullian (works [c.200]), quoted by Robert Pasnau - Metaphysical Themes 1274-1671 20.2
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 1. Religious Commitment / e. Fideism
6610 I believe because it is absurd [Tertullian]
     Full Idea: I believe because it is absurd ('Credo quia absurdum est').
     From: Tertullian (works [c.200]), quoted by Robert Fogelin - Walking the Tightrope of Reason n4.2
     A reaction: This seems to be a rather desperate remark, in response to what must have been rather good hostile arguments. No one would abandon the support of reason if it was easy to acquire. You can't deny its engaging romantic defiance, though.