3 ideas
19216 | Propositions (such as 'that dog is barking') only exist if their items exist [Williamson] |
Full Idea: A proposition about an item exists only if that item exists... how could something be the proposition that that dog is barking in circumstances in which that dog does not exist? | |
From: Timothy Williamson (Necessary Existents [2002], p.240), quoted by Trenton Merricks - Propositions | |
A reaction: This is a view of propositions I can't make sense of. If I'm under an illusion that there is a dog barking nearby, when there isn't one, can I not say 'that dog is barking'? If I haven't expressed a proposition, what have I done? |
1460 | Religious experience deserves the same respect as our other key experiences, and is best called 'holy' [Taylor,AE, by PG] |
Full Idea: We respect the religious experience of others in a similar way to our respect for their artistic or sense experiences, and the quality which makes them seem authentic can only be called 'holy'. | |
From: report of A.E. Taylor (Vindication of Religion (extract) [1926], III) by PG - Db (ideas) |
23873 | Dividing history books into separate chapters is disastrous [Weil] |
Full Idea: The division of history textbooks into chapters will cost us many disastrous mistakes. | |
From: Simone Weil (Fragments [1936], p.131) | |
A reaction: Nice observation. The point is that we fail to grasp what really happened if we draw sharp lines across history. |