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? |
3284 | There is no one theory of how to act (or what to believe) [Nagel] |
Full Idea: To look for a single general theory of how to decide the right thing to do is like looking for a single theory of how to decide what to believe. | |
From: Thomas Nagel (The Fragmentation of Value [1977], p.135) | |
A reaction: Depends on your level of generality. Values and virtues are general guides which should be brought to every action, with 'higher' values guiding choice of what is relevant. |
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. |