97 ideas
20121 | Grammar only reveals popular metaphysics [Nietzsche] |
14456 | 'Socrates is human' expresses predication, and 'Socrates is a man' expresses identity [Russell] |
14426 | A definition by 'extension' enumerates items, and one by 'intension' gives a defining property [Russell] |
8468 | The sentence 'procrastination drinks quadruplicity' is meaningless, rather than false [Russell, by Orenstein] |
24082 | Is the will to truth the desire to avoid deception? [Nietzsche] |
14454 | An argument 'satisfies' a function φx if φa is true [Russell] |
14453 | The Darapti syllogism is fallacious: All M is S, all M is P, so some S is P' - but if there is no M? [Russell] |
14427 | We can enumerate finite classes, but an intensional definition is needed for infinite classes [Russell] |
14428 | Members define a unique class, whereas defining characteristics are numerous [Russell] |
14447 | Infinity says 'for any inductive cardinal, there is a class having that many terms' [Russell] |
14440 | We may assume that there are infinite collections, as there is no logical reason against them [Russell] |
14443 | The British parliament has one representative selected from each constituency [Russell] |
14445 | Choice shows that if any two cardinals are not equal, one must be the greater [Russell] |
14444 | Choice is equivalent to the proposition that every class is well-ordered [Russell] |
14446 | We can pick all the right or left boots, but socks need Choice to insure the representative class [Russell] |
14459 | Reducibility: a family of functions is equivalent to a single type of function [Russell] |
14461 | Propositions about classes can be reduced to propositions about their defining functions [Russell] |
8469 | Russell's proposal was that only meaningful predicates have sets as their extensions [Russell, by Orenstein] |
8745 | Classes are logical fictions, and are not part of the ultimate furniture of the world [Russell] |
14452 | All the propositions of logic are completely general [Russell] |
14462 | In modern times, logic has become mathematical, and mathematics has become logical [Russell] |
10057 | Logic can only assert hypothetical existence [Russell] |
12444 | Logic is concerned with the real world just as truly as zoology [Russell] |
14464 | Logic can be known a priori, without study of the actual world [Russell] |
14458 | Asking 'Did Homer exist?' is employing an abbreviated description [Russell] |
10450 | Russell admitted that even names could also be used as descriptions [Russell, by Bach] |
14457 | Names are really descriptions, except for a few words like 'this' and 'that' [Russell] |
7311 | The only genuine proper names are 'this' and 'that' [Russell] |
14455 | 'I met a unicorn' is meaningful, and so is 'unicorn', but 'a unicorn' is not [Russell] |
14442 | If straight lines were like ratios they might intersect at a 'gap', and have no point in common [Russell] |
14438 | New numbers solve problems: negatives for subtraction, fractions for division, complex for equations [Russell] |
13510 | Could a number just be something which occurs in a progression? [Russell, by Hart,WD] |
14436 | A series can be 'Cut' in two, where the lower class has no maximum, the upper no minimum [Russell] |
14439 | A complex number is simply an ordered couple of real numbers [Russell] |
14421 | Discovering that 1 is a number was difficult [Russell] |
14424 | Numbers are needed for counting, so they need a meaning, and not just formal properties [Russell] |
14441 | The formal laws of arithmetic are the Commutative, the Associative and the Distributive [Russell] |
14420 | Infinity and continuity used to be philosophy, but are now mathematics [Russell] |
14431 | The definition of order needs a transitive relation, to leap over infinite intermediate terms [Russell] |
14422 | Any founded, non-repeating series all reachable in steps will satisfy Peano's axioms [Russell] |
14423 | '0', 'number' and 'successor' cannot be defined by Peano's axioms [Russell] |
14425 | A number is something which characterises collections of the same size [Russell] |
14434 | What matters is the logical interrelation of mathematical terms, not their intrinsic nature [Russell] |
14465 | Maybe numbers are adjectives, since 'ten men' grammatically resembles 'white men' [Russell] |
13414 | For Russell, numbers are sets of equivalent sets [Russell, by Benacerraf] |
14449 | There is always something psychological about inference [Russell] |
14463 | Existence can only be asserted of something described, not of something named [Russell] |
20360 | We Germans value becoming and development more highly than mere being of what 'is' [Nietzsche] |
14429 | Classes are logical fictions, made from defining characteristics [Russell] |
14430 | If a relation is symmetrical and transitive, it has to be reflexive [Russell] |
14432 | 'Asymmetry' is incompatible with its converse; a is husband of b, so b can't be husband of a [Russell] |
14435 | The essence of individuality is beyond description, and hence irrelevant to science [Russell] |
24077 | Necessity is thought to require an event, but is only an after-effect of the event [Nietzsche] |
12197 | Inferring q from p only needs p to be true, and 'not-p or q' to be true [Russell] |
14450 | All forms of implication are expressible as truth-functions [Russell] |
14460 | If something is true in all possible worlds then it is logically necessary [Russell] |
20126 | The strength of knowledge is not its truth, but its entrenchment in our culture [Nietzsche] |
5806 | Belief is the power of metarepresentation [Dretske] |
5801 | A mouse hearing a piano played does not believe it, because it lacks concepts and understanding [Dretske] |
20119 | We became increasingly conscious of our sense impressions in order to communicate them [Nietzsche] |
20122 | We have no organ for knowledge or truth; we only 'know' what is useful to the human herd [Nietzsche] |
4423 | We assume causes, geometry, motion, bodies etc to live, but they haven't been proved [Nietzsche] |
6579 | Nietzsche's perspectivism says our worldview depends on our personality [Nietzsche, by Fogelin] |
24083 | It would be absurd to say we are only permitted our own single perspective [Nietzsche] |
14433 | Mathematically expressed propositions are true of the world, but how to interpret them? [Russell] |
5802 | Representations are in the head, but their content is not, as stories don't exist in their books [Dretske] |
20115 | All of our normal mental life could be conducted without consciousness [Nietzsche] |
20117 | Only the need for communication has led to consciousness developing [Nietzsche] |
5809 | Some activities are performed better without consciousness of them [Dretske] |
20118 | Only our conscious thought is verbal, and this shows the origin of consciousness [Nietzsche] |
20116 | Most of our lives, even the important parts, take place outside of consciousness [Nietzsche] |
20120 | Whatever moves into consciousness becomes thereby much more superficial [Nietzsche] |
5808 | Qualia are just the properties objects are represented as having [Dretske] |
5805 | Introspection does not involve looking inwards [Dretske] |
5803 | In a representational theory of mind, introspection is displaced perception [Dretske] |
5807 | Introspection is the same as the experience one is introspecting [Dretske] |
2932 | 'Know thyself' is impossible and ridiculous [Nietzsche] |
5804 | A representational theory of the mind is an externalist theory of the mind [Dretske] |
5800 | All mental facts are representation, which consists of informational functions [Dretske] |
24078 | Thoughts cannot be fully reproduced in words [Nietzsche] |
24081 | Most of our intellectual activity is unconscious [Nietzsche] |
14451 | Propositions are mainly verbal expressions of true or false, and perhaps also symbolic thoughts [Russell] |
2933 | Why do you listen to the voice of your conscience? [Nietzsche] |
20141 | Higher human beings see and hear far more than others, and do it more thoughtfully [Nietzsche] |
24076 | A morality ranks human drives and actions, for the sake of the herd, and subordinating individuals [Nietzsche] |
22471 | Nietzsche thought it 'childish' to say morality isn't binding because it varies between cultures [Nietzsche, by Foot] |
2935 | No two actions are the same [Nietzsche] |
20198 | Many virtues are harmful traps, but that is why other people praise them [Nietzsche] |
4275 | You cannot advocate joyful wisdom while rejecting pity, because the two are complementary [Scruton on Nietzsche] |
2934 | To see one's own judgement as a universal law is selfish [Nietzsche] |
24080 | We should give style to our character - by applying an artistic plan to its strengths and weaknesses [Nietzsche] |
20125 | The ethical teacher exists to give purpose to what happens necessarily and without purpose [Nietzsche] |
9306 | To ward off boredom at any cost is vulgar [Nietzsche] |
24079 | The best life is the dangerous life [Nietzsche] |
2936 | Imagine if before each of your actions you had to accept repeating the action over and over again [Nietzsche] |
6842 | Nietzsche says facing up to the eternal return of meaninglessness is the response to nihilism [Nietzsche, by Critchley] |
2931 | God is dead, and we have killed him [Nietzsche] |