166 ideas
18330 | Judging by the positive forces, the Renaissance was the last great age [Nietzsche] |
2900 | I revere Heraclitus [Nietzsche] |
2913 | Thucydides was the perfect anti-platonist sophist [Nietzsche] |
2909 | Thinking has to be learned in the way dancing has to be learned [Nietzsche] |
2845 | Free and great-souled men do not keep asking "what is the use of it?" [Aristotle] |
2892 | Wanting a system in philosophy is a lack of integrity [Nietzsche] |
22521 | Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole [Aristotle] |
1570 | Human beings, alone of the animals, have logos [Aristotle] |
1574 | Reasoning distinguishes what is beneficial, and hence what is right [Aristotle] |
2801 | Intelligence which looks ahead is a natural master, while bodily strength is a natural slave [Aristotle] |
2896 | I want to understand the Socratic idea that 'reason equals virtue equals happiness' [Nietzsche] |
2897 | With dialectics the rabble gets on top [Nietzsche] |
2898 | Anything which must first be proved is of little value [Nietzsche] |
22529 | Men are natural leaders (apart from the unnatural ones) [Aristotle] |
22571 | 'If each is small, so too are all' is in one way false, for the whole composed of all is not small [Aristotle] |
18317 | The 'real being' of things is a nothingness constructed from contradictions in the actual world [Nietzsche] |
18315 | We get the concept of 'being' from the concept of the 'ego' [Nietzsche] |
18316 | The grounds for an assertion that the world is only apparent actually establish its reality [Nietzsche] |
18314 | In language we treat 'ego' as a substance, and it is thus that we create the concept 'thing' [Nietzsche] |
22525 | The whole is prior to its parts, because parts are defined by their role [Aristotle] |
22587 | Understanding is the aim of our nature [Aristotle] |
18309 | The evidence of the senses is falsified by reason [Nietzsche] |
22522 | To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins [Aristotle] |
22524 | The nature of each thing is its mature state [Aristotle] |
18323 | Any explanation will be accepted as true if it gives pleasure and a feeling of power [Nietzsche] |
18310 | The 'highest' concepts are the most general and empty concepts [Nietzsche] |
22528 | The nature of all animate things is to have one part which rules it [Aristotle] |
20368 | There are no 'individual' persons; we are each the sum of humanity up to this moment [Nietzsche] |
2899 | The fanatical rationality of Greek philosophy shows that they were in a state of emergency [Nietzsche] |
22570 | Rhetoric now enables good speakers to become popular leaders [Aristotle] |
18313 | The big error is to think the will is a faculty producing effects; in fact, it is just a word [Nietzsche] |
7861 | Libet says the processes initiated in the cortex can still be consciously changed [Libet, by Papineau] |
6660 | Libet found conscious choice 0.2 secs before movement, well after unconscious 'readiness potential' [Libet, by Lowe] |
22574 | A community can lack self-control [Aristotle] |
20133 | The 'motive' is superficial, and may even hide the antecedents of a deed [Nietzsche] |
18326 | The beautiful never stands alone; it derives from man's pleasure in man [Nietzsche] |
2837 | Nothing contrary to nature is beautiful [Aristotle] |
20101 | Without music life would be a mistake [Nietzsche] |
2824 | The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual [Aristotle] |
2846 | Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body) [Aristotle] |
2902 | Healthy morality is dominated by an instinct for life [Nietzsche] |
18311 | Philosophers hate values having an origin, and want values to be self-sufficient [Nietzsche] |
18324 | There are no moral facts, and moralists believe in realities which do not exist [Nietzsche] |
2904 | The doctrine of free will has been invented essentially in order to blame and punish people [Nietzsche] |
2807 | Some say slavery is unnatural and created by convention, and is therefore forced, and unjust [Aristotle] |
18308 | A philosopher fails in wisdom if he thinks the value of life is a problem [Nietzsche] |
18322 | When we establish values, that is life itself establishing them, through us [Nietzsche] |
18321 | To evaluate life one must know it, but also be situated outside of it [Nietzsche] |
2894 | Value judgements about life can never be true [Nietzsche] |
2893 | In every age the wisest people have judged life to be worthless [Nietzsche] |
2895 | The value of life cannot be estimated [Nietzsche] |
18319 | Love is the spiritualisation of sensuality [Nietzsche] |
22582 | Spirit [thumos] is the capacity by which we love [Aristotle] |
2810 | Selfishness is wrong not because it is self-love, but because it is excessive [Aristotle] |
2903 | A good human will be virtuous because they are happy [Nietzsche] |
22555 | The function of good men is to confer benefits [Aristotle] |
2891 | Only the English actually strive after happiness [Nietzsche] |
18327 | A wholly altruistic morality, with no egoism, is a thoroughly bad thing [Nietzsche] |
22557 | Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city [Aristotle] |
2841 | People become good because of nature, habit and reason [Aristotle] |
2829 | The law is the mean [Aristotle] |
22590 | Virtue is concerned with correct feelings [Aristotle] |
2813 | It is quite possible to live a moderate life and yet be miserable [Aristotle] |
22553 | Justice is a virtue of communities [Aristotle] |
15606 | Military idea: what does not kill me makes me stronger [Nietzsche] |
18328 | Invalids are parasites [Nietzsche] |
22561 | The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes [Aristotle] |
2808 | Master and slave can have friendship through common interests [Aristotle] |
2803 | Man is by nature a political animal [Aristotle] |
2820 | People want to live together, even when they don't want mutual help [Aristotle] |
22586 | Only humans have reason [Aristotle] |
22523 | The community (of villages) becomes a city when it is totally self-sufficient [Aristotle] |
2805 | A community must share a common view of good and justice [Aristotle] |
22526 | People who are anti-social or wholly self-sufficient are no part of a city [Aristotle] |
22535 | Friendship is the best good for cities, because it reduces factions [Aristotle] |
22584 | A community should all share to some extent in something like land or food [Aristotle] |
22532 | A city can't become entirely one, because its very nature is to be a multitude [Aristotle] |
22581 | The size of a city is decided by the maximum self-sufficient community that can be surveyed [Aristotle] |
22548 | A city aims at living well [Aristotle] |
22577 | What is the best life for everyone, and is that a communal or an individual problem? [Aristotle] |
22579 | The same four cardinal virtues which apply to individuals also apply to a city [Aristotle] |
2431 | Every state is an association formed for some good purpose [Aristotle] |
22578 | The happiest city is the one that acts most nobly [Aristotle] |
2832 | The state aims to consist as far as possible of those who are like and equal [Aristotle] |
22566 | The greed of the rich is more destructive than the greed of the people [Aristotle] |
22546 | A city is a community of free people, and the constitution should aim at the common advantage [Aristotle] |
2821 | The six constitutions are monarchy/tyranny, aristocracy/oligarchy, and polity/democracy [Aristotle] |
22558 | Constitutions specify distribution of offices, the authorities, and the community's aim [Aristotle] |
2835 | Any constitution can be made to last for a day or two [Aristotle] |
2973 | We must decide the most desirable human life before designing a constitution [Aristotle] |
22580 | The best constitution enables everyone to live the best life [Aristotle] |
2818 | The virtues of a good citizen are relative to a particular constitution [Aristotle] |
22545 | A person can be an excellent citizen without being an excellent man [Aristotle] |
22563 | The middle classes are neither ambitious nor anarchic, which is good [Aristotle] |
22544 | A citizen is someone who is allowed to hold official posts in a city [Aristotle] |
22541 | Kings should be selected according to character [Aristotle] |
22552 | The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy [Aristotle] |
22583 | The guardians should not be harsh to strangers, as no one should behave like that [Aristotle] |
2819 | The only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom [Aristotle] |
22542 | People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it [Aristotle] |
22539 | Election of officials by the elected is dangerous, because factions can control it [Aristotle] |
22543 | In large communities it is better if more people participate in the offices [Aristotle] |
22572 | Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice [Aristotle] |
2823 | The many may add up to something good, even if they are inferior as individuals [Aristotle] |
22567 | Democracy arises when people who are given equal freedom assume unconditional equality [Aristotle] |
22560 | Popular leaders only arise in democracies that are not in accord with the law [Aristotle] |
22562 | Choosing officials by lot is democratic [Aristotle] |
2826 | Like water, large numbers of people are harder to corrupt than a few [Aristotle] |
22533 | If the people are equal in nature, then they should all share in ruling [Aristotle] |
2817 | It is wrong that a worthy officer of state should seek the office [Aristotle] |
22576 | No office is permanent in a democracy [Aristotle] |
22549 | In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts [Aristotle] |
18331 | Democracy is organisational power in decline [Nietzsche] |
22575 | Ultimate democracy is tyranny [Aristotle] |
22531 | We aim to understand the best possible community for free people [Aristotle] |
18332 | The creation of institutions needs a determination which is necessarily anti-liberal [Nietzsche] |
22585 | Look at all of the citizens before judging a city to be happy [Aristotle] |
22564 | Community is based on friends, who are equal and similar, and share things [Aristotle] |
22565 | The best communities rely on a large and strong middle class [Aristotle] |
22589 | Citizens do not just own themselves, but are also parts of the city [Aristotle] |
22534 | People care less about what is communal, and more about what is their own [Aristotle] |
22538 | Owning and sharing property communally increases disagreements [Aristotle] |
22536 | There could be private land and public crops, or public land and private crops, or both public [Aristotle] |
22530 | Both women and children should be educated, as this contributes to a city's excellence [Aristotle] |
21358 | Natural slaves are those naturally belonging to another, or who can manage no more than labouring [Aristotle] |
20092 | One principle of liberty is to take turns ruling and being ruled [Aristotle] |
2833 | Equality is obviously there to help people who do not get priority in the constitution [Aristotle] |
2834 | It is always the weak who want justice and equality, not the strong [Aristotle] |
2830 | We can claim an equal right to aristocratic virtue, as well as to wealth or freedom [Aristotle] |
22568 | Faction is for inferiors to be equal, and equals to become superior [Aristotle] |
22569 | The Heraeans replaced election with lot, to thwart campaigning [Aristotle] |
22550 | It is dreadful to neither give a share nor receive a share [Aristotle] |
2814 | Phaleas proposed equality of property, provided there is equality of education [Aristotle] |
22540 | Wealth could be quickly leveled by only the rich giving marriage dowries [Aristotle] |
2828 | Law is intelligence without appetite [Aristotle] |
22537 | Property should be owned privately, but used communally [Aristotle] |
2825 | The good is obviously justice, which benefits the whole community, and involves equality in some sense [Aristotle] |
2911 | True justice is equality for equals and inequality for unequals [Nietzsche] |
22527 | Justice is the order in a political community [Aristotle] |
22547 | Justice is equality for equals, and inequality for unequals [Aristotle] |
22573 | The virtue of justice may be relative to a particular constitution [Aristotle] |
2806 | Man is the worst of all animals when divorced from law and justice [Aristotle] |
2816 | If it is easy to change the laws, that makes them weaker [Aristotle] |
22556 | Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules [Aristotle] |
22551 | Correct law should be in control, with rulers only deciding uncertain issues [Aristotle] |
22554 | It is said that we should not stick strictly to written law, as it is too vague [Aristotle] |
2827 | It is preferable that law should rule rather than any single citizen [Aristotle] |
18320 | To renounce war is to renounce the grand life [Nietzsche] |
2840 | The whole state should pay for the worship of the gods [Aristotle] |
2811 | A state is plural, and needs education to make it a community [Aristotle] |
22588 | A city has a single end, so education must focus on that, and be communal, not private [Aristotle] |
2847 | The aim of serious childhood play is the amusement of the complete adult [Aristotle] |
2908 | There is a need for educators who are themselves educated [Nietzsche] |
2842 | Men learn partly by habit, and partly by listening [Aristotle] |
2844 | Abortions should be procured before the embryo has acquired life and sensation [Aristotle] |
18329 | Sometimes it is an error to have been born - but we can rectify it [Nietzsche] |
2809 | If nature makes everything for a purpose, then plants and animals must have been made for man [Aristotle] |
2800 | The best instruments have one purpose, not many [Aristotle] |
2905 | 'Purpose' is just a human fiction [Nietzsche] |
2836 | God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature [Aristotle] |
18312 | The supreme general but empty concepts must be compatible, and hence we get 'God' [Nietzsche] |
2802 | Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle [Aristotle] |
2906 | By denying God we deny human accountability, and thus we redeem the world [Nietzsche] |
2901 | How could the Church intelligently fight against passion if it preferred poorness of spirit to intelligence? [Nietzsche] |
18325 | Christians believe that only God can know what is good for man [Nietzsche] |
18318 | People who disparage actual life avenge themselves by imagining a better one [Nietzsche] |