Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Reflections on my Critics', 'Political Ideals' and 'Ontological Relativity'

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23 ideas

3. Truth / H. Deflationary Truth / 2. Deflationary Truth
12129 'Truth' may only apply within a theory [Kuhn]
5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 5. First-Order Logic
21495 Theoretical and practical politics are both concerned with the best lives for individuals [Russell]
5. Theory of Logic / G. Quantification / 4. Substitutional Quantification
21642 If quantification is all substitutional, there is no ontology [Quine]
7. Existence / A. Nature of Existence / 6. Criterion for Existence
1633 Absolute ontological questions are meaningless, because the answers are circular definitions [Quine]
7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 11. Ontological Commitment / d. Commitment of theories
18964 Ontology is relative to both a background theory and a translation manual [Quine]
9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 1. Concept of Identity
18965 We know what things are by distinguishing them, so identity is part of ontology [Quine]
13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 5. Language Relativism
1634 Two things are relative - the background theory, and translating the object theory into the background theory [Quine]
14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 1. Scientific Theory
6809 Kuhn came to accept that all scientists agree on a particular set of values [Kuhn, by Bird]
14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 5. Commensurability
12128 In theory change, words shift their natural reference, so the theories are incommensurable [Kuhn]
19. Language / B. Reference / 1. Reference theories
8470 Reference is inscrutable, because we cannot choose between theories of numbers [Quine, by Orenstein]
19. Language / F. Communication / 6. Interpreting Language / b. Indeterminate translation
18963 Indeterminacy translating 'rabbit' depends on translating individuation terms [Quine]
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / h. Respect
21517 Individuals need creativity, reverence for others, and self-respect [Russell]
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 4. Changing the State / b. Devolution
21522 Democracy is inadequate without a great deal of devolution [Russell]
21523 We would not want UK affairs to be settled by a world parliament [Russell]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 2. Anarchism
21521 Anarchy does not maximise liberty [Russell]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / c. Direct democracy
21528 Groups should be autonomous, with a neutral authority as arbitrator [Russell]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / f. Against democracy
21526 Unfortunately ordinary voters can't detect insincerity [Russell]
21527 On every new question the majority is always wrong at first [Russell]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 8. Socialism
21525 When the state is the only employer, there is no refuge from the prejudices of other people [Russell]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 11. Capitalism
21518 Men unite in pursuit of material things, and idealise greed as part of group loyalty [Russell]
25. Social Practice / A. Freedoms / 5. Freedom of lifestyle
21519 We need security and liberty, and then encouragement of creativity [Russell]
25. Social Practice / C. Rights / 4. Property rights
21524 The right to own land gives a legal right to a permanent income [Russell]
29. Religion / D. Religious Issues / 2. Immortality / d. Heaven
21520 That our heaven is a dull place reflects the misery of excessive work in life [Russell]