36 ideas
22496 | Wisdom only implies the knowledge achievable in any normal lifetime [Foot] |
16539 | A definition of a circle will show what it is, and show its generating principle [Lowe] |
16540 | Defining an ellipse by conic sections reveals necessities, but not the essence of an ellipse [Lowe] |
16548 | An essence is what an entity is, revealed by a real definition; this is not an entity in its own right [Lowe] |
16549 | Simple things like 'red' can be given real ostensive definitions [Lowe] |
18528 | The single imagined 'interval' between things only exists in the intellect [Auriol] |
16545 | The essence of lumps and statues shows that two objects coincide but are numerically distinct [Lowe] |
16546 | The essence of a bronze statue shows that it could be made of different bronze [Lowe] |
16551 | Grasping an essence is just grasping a real definition [Lowe] |
16542 | Explanation can't give an account of essence, because it is too multi-faceted [Lowe] |
16552 | If we must know some entity to know an essence, we lack a faculty to do that [Lowe] |
16533 | Logical necessities, based on laws of logic, are a proper sub-class of metaphysical necessities [Lowe] |
16531 | 'Metaphysical' necessity is absolute and objective - the strongest kind of necessity [Lowe] |
16532 | 'Epistemic' necessity is better called 'certainty' [Lowe] |
16543 | If an essence implies p, then p is an essential truth, and hence metaphysically necessary [Lowe] |
16544 | Metaphysical necessity is either an essential truth, or rests on essential truths [Lowe] |
16538 | We could give up possible worlds if we based necessity on essences [Lowe] |
16534 | 'Intuitions' are just unreliable 'hunches'; over centuries intuitions change enormously [Lowe] |
16535 | A concept is a way of thinking of things or kinds, whether or not they exist [Lowe] |
16550 | Direct reference doesn't seem to require that thinkers know what it is they are thinking about [Lowe] |
23694 | All criterions of practical rationality derive from goodness of will [Foot] |
23686 | Moral reason is not just neutral, because morality is part of the standard of rationality [Foot, by Hacker-Wright] |
23693 | Practical rationality must weigh both what is morally and what is non-morally required [Foot] |
23687 | Moral virtues arise from human nature, as part of what makes us good human beings [Foot, by Hacker-Wright] |
22492 | Virtues are as necessary to humans as stings are to bees [Foot] |
22493 | Sterility is a human defect, but the choice to be childless is not [Foot] |
22491 | Moral evaluations are not separate from facts, but concern particular facts about functioning [Foot] |
22497 | Deep happiness usually comes from the basic things in life [Foot] |
22498 | Happiness is enjoying the pursuit and attainment of right ends [Foot] |
23695 | Good actions can never be justified by the good they brings to their agent [Foot] |
22499 | We all know that just pretending to be someone's friend is not the good life [Foot] |
22495 | Someone is a good person because of their rational will, not their body or memory [Foot] |
22502 | Refraining from murder is not made good by authenticity or self-fulfilment [Foot] |
16589 | Prime matter lacks essence, but is only potentially and indeterminately a physical thing [Auriol] |
16547 | H2O isn't necessary, because different laws of nature might affect how O and H combine [Lowe] |
16651 | God can do anything non-contradictory, as making straightness with no line, or lightness with no parts [Auriol] |