15 ideas
10121 | Contradiction is not a sign of falsity, nor lack of contradiction a sign of truth [Pascal] |
21642 | If quantification is all substitutional, there is no ontology [Quine] |
1633 | Absolute ontological questions are meaningless, because the answers are circular definitions [Quine] |
18964 | Ontology is relative to both a background theory and a translation manual [Quine] |
18965 | We know what things are by distinguishing them, so identity is part of ontology [Quine] |
1634 | Two things are relative - the background theory, and translating the object theory into the background theory [Quine] |
8470 | Reference is inscrutable, because we cannot choose between theories of numbers [Quine, by Orenstein] |
18963 | Indeterminacy translating 'rabbit' depends on translating individuation terms [Quine] |
7127 | If men are good you should keep promises, but they aren't, so you needn't [Machiavelli] |
6309 | The principle foundations of all states are good laws and good armies [Machiavelli] |
6306 | People are vengeful, so be generous to them, or destroy them [Machiavelli] |
6305 | To retain a conquered state, wipe out the ruling family, and preserve everything else [Machiavelli] |
6308 | A sensible conqueror does all his harmful deeds immediately, because people soon forget [Machiavelli] |
6307 | A desire to conquer, and men who do it, are always praised, or not blamed [Machiavelli] |
7486 | Machiavelli emancipated politics from religion [Machiavelli, by Watson] |