217 ideas
2136 | Philosophers become as divine and orderly as possible, by studying divinity and order [Plato] |
2845 | Free and great-souled men do not keep asking "what is the use of it?" [Aristotle] |
23767 | The winds of the discussion should decide its destination [Plato] |
22521 | Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole [Aristotle] |
23682 | It would be absurd to be precise about the small things, but only vague about the big things [Plato] |
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] |
2151 | Dialectic is the only method of inquiry which uproots the things which it takes for granted [Plato] |
2154 | The ability to take an overview is the distinguishing mark of a dialectician [Plato] |
4011 | For Plato, rationality is a vision of and love of a cosmic rational order [Plato, by Taylor,C] |
2093 | You must never go against what you actually believe [Plato] |
2130 | People often merely practice eristic instead of dialectic, because they don't analyse the subject-matter [Plato] |
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] |
2145 | In mathematics certain things have to be accepted without further explanation [Plato] |
8726 | Geometry can lead the mind upwards to truth and philosophy [Plato] |
9863 | We aim for elevated discussion of pure numbers, not attaching them to physical objects [Plato] |
9864 | In pure numbers, all ones are equal, with no internal parts [Plato] |
8727 | Geometry is not an activity, but the study of unchanging knowledge [Plato] |
9861 | The same thing is both one and an unlimited number at the same time [Plato] |
9862 | To become rational, philosophers must rise from becoming into being [Plato] |
21818 | Being depends on the Good, which is not itself being, but superior to being [Plato] |
2061 | The best things (gods, healthy bodies, good souls) are least liable to change [Plato] |
6562 | Plato's reality has unchanging Parmenidean forms, and Heraclitean flux [Plato, by Fogelin] |
2142 | The plurality of beautiful things must belong to a single class, because they have a single particular character [Plato] |
5094 | Plato's Forms are said to have no location in space [Plato, by Aristotle] |
2159 | Craftsmen making furniture refer to the form, but no one manufactures the form of furniture [Plato] |
12043 | Forms are not universals, as they don't cover every general term [Plato, by Annas] |
17 | A Form applies to a set of particular things with the same name [Plato] |
12122 | Plato mistakenly thought forms were totally abstracted away from matter [Bacon on Plato] |
5574 | Plato's Forms not only do not come from the senses, but they are beyond possibility of sensing [Plato, by Kant] |
22525 | The whole is prior to its parts, because parts are defined by their role [Aristotle] |
2133 | Knowledge must be of the permanent unchanging nature of things [Plato] |
22587 | Understanding is the aim of our nature [Aristotle] |
2162 | If theory and practice conflict, the best part of the mind accepts theory, so the other part is of lower grade [Plato] |
2140 | True belief without knowledge is like blind people on the right road [Plato] |
22522 | To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins [Aristotle] |
22524 | The nature of each thing is its mature state [Aristotle] |
2096 | Is the function of the mind management, authority and planning - or is it one's whole way of life? [Plato] |
6009 | Psychic conflict is clear if appetite is close to the body and reason fairly separate [Plato, by Modrak] |
6041 | There is a third element to the mind - spirit - lying between reason and appetite [Plato] |
2127 | The mind has parts, because we have inner conflicts [Plato] |
1737 | The soul seems to have an infinity of parts [Aristotle on Plato] |
22528 | The nature of all animate things is to have one part which rules it [Aristotle] |
22570 | Rhetoric now enables good speakers to become popular leaders [Aristotle] |
5945 | The 'Republic' is a great work of rhetorical theory [Lawson-Tancred on Plato] |
23316 | For Plato and Aristotle there is no will; there is only rational desire for what is seen as good [Plato, by Frede,M] |
22574 | A community can lack self-control [Aristotle] |
16 | We avoid evil either through a natural aversion, or because we have acquired knowledge [Plato] |
7352 | Jesus said learning was unnecessary, and only the spirit of the Law was needed [Jesus, by Johnson,P] |
2837 | Nothing contrary to nature is beautiful [Aristotle] |
16565 | Without the surface decoration, poetry shows only appearances and nothing of what is real [Plato] |
2160 | Representation is two steps removed from the truth [Plato] |
2824 | The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual [Aristotle] |
2135 | Truth is closely related to proportion [Plato] |
2163 | Artists should be excluded from a law-abiding community, because they destroy the rational mind [Plato] |
2846 | Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body) [Aristotle] |
2141 | I suggest that we forget about trying to define goodness itself for the time being [Plato] |
1869 | The good cannot be expressed in words, but imprints itself upon the soul [Plato, by Celsus] |
4115 | Plato found that he could only enforce rational moral justification by creating an authoritarian society [Williams,B on Plato] |
2807 | Some say slavery is unnatural and created by convention, and is therefore forced, and unjust [Aristotle] |
4547 | Plato measured the degree of reality by the degree of value [Nietzsche on Plato] |
2094 | A thing's function is what it alone can do, or what it does better than other things [Plato] |
2095 | If something has a function then it has a state of being good [Plato] |
2129 | Goodness is mental health, badness is mental sickness [Plato] |
6289 | Love your enemies [Jesus] |
6292 | Love thy neighbour as thyself [Jesus] |
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] |
2168 | Clever criminals do well at first, but not in the long run [Plato] |
12 | If we were invisible, would the just man become like the unjust? [Plato] |
2143 | Good has the same role in the world of knowledge as the sun has in the physical world [Plato] |
2137 | The main aim is to understand goodness, which gives everything its value and advantage [Plato] |
2147 | The sight of goodness leads to all that is fine and true and right [Plato] |
2144 | Goodness makes truth and knowledge possible [Plato] |
4007 | For Plato we abandon honour and pleasure once we see the Good [Plato, by Taylor,C] |
2164 | Bad is always destructive, where good preserves and benefits [Plato] |
2139 | Every person, and every activity, aims at the good [Plato] |
2138 | Pleasure is commonly thought to be the good, though the more ingenious prefer knowledge [Plato] |
2070 | Even people who think pleasure is the good admit that there are bad pleasures [Plato] |
22555 | The function of good men is to confer benefits [Aristotle] |
2157 | Nice smells are intensive, have no preceding pain, and no bad after-effect [Plato] |
2134 | Philosophers are concerned with totally non-physical pleasures [Plato] |
2156 | There are three types of pleasure, for reason, for spirit and for appetite [Plato] |
2123 | Excessive pleasure deranges people, making the other virtues impossible [Plato] |
2158 | Pleasure-seekers desperately seek illusory satisfaction, like filling a leaky vessel [Plato] |
2166 | We should behave well even if invisible, for the health of the mind [Plato] |
2097 | Isn't it better to have a reputation for goodness than to actually be good? [Plato] |
5 | Justice is merely the interests of the stronger party [Plato] |
19946 | Morality is a compromise, showing restraint, to avoid suffering wrong without compensation [Plato] |
5356 | Treat others as you would have them treat you [Jesus] |
7 | Surely you don't return a borrowed weapon to a mad friend? [Plato] |
6286 | Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy [Jesus] |
8 | Is right just the interests of the powerful? [Plato] |
15 | Sin first, then sacrifice to the gods from the proceeds [Plato] |
5944 | For Plato, virtue is its own reward [Lawson-Tancred on Plato] |
22557 | Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city [Aristotle] |
2841 | People become good because of nature, habit and reason [Aristotle] |
6290 | Except ye become as little children, ye shall not enter heaven [Jesus] |
2829 | The law is the mean [Aristotle] |
22590 | Virtue is concerned with correct feelings [Aristotle] |
6287 | If you lust after a woman, you have committed adultery [Jesus] |
2155 | True goodness requires mental unity and harmony [Plato] |
2126 | A good community necessarily has wisdom, courage, self-discipline and morality [Plato] |
6285 | Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth [Jesus] |
2813 | It is quite possible to live a moderate life and yet be miserable [Aristotle] |
2092 | Simonides said morality is helping one's friends and harming one's enemies [Plato] |
22553 | Justice is a virtue of communities [Aristotle] |
23562 | If the parts of our soul do their correct work, we will be just people, and will act justly [Plato] |
6288 | Don't resist evil, but turn the other cheek [Jesus] |
22561 | The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes [Aristotle] |
6293 | It is almost impossible for the rich to go to heaven [Jesus] |
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] |
19889 | People need society because the individual has too many needs [Plato] |
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] |
19890 | All exchanges in a community are for mutual benefit [Plato] |
22577 | What is the best life for everyone, and is that a communal or an individual problem? [Aristotle] |
22578 | The happiest city is the one that acts most nobly [Aristotle] |
22579 | The same four cardinal virtues which apply to individuals also apply to a city [Aristotle] |
22548 | A city aims at living well [Aristotle] |
2431 | Every state is an association formed for some good purpose [Aristotle] |
10 | After a taste of mutual harm, men make a legal contract to avoid it [Plato] |
2832 | The state aims to consist as far as possible of those who are like and equal [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] |
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] |
22566 | The greed of the rich is more destructive than the greed of the people [Aristotle] |
2835 | Any constitution can be made to last for a day or two [Aristotle] |
22544 | A citizen is someone who is allowed to hold official posts in a city [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] |
23561 | People doing their jobs properly is the fourth cardinal virtue for a city [Plato] |
22541 | Kings should be selected according to character [Aristotle] |
2149 | Reluctant rulers make a better and more unified administration [Plato] |
22542 | People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it [Aristotle] |
2132 | Only rule by philosophers of integrity can keep a community healthy [Plato] |
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] |
22552 | The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy [Aristotle] |
22572 | Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice [Aristotle] |
22543 | In large communities it is better if more people participate in the offices [Aristotle] |
22539 | Election of officials by the elected is dangerous, because factions can control it [Aristotle] |
2826 | Like water, large numbers of people are harder to corrupt than a few [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] |
22562 | Choosing officials by lot is democratic [Aristotle] |
22560 | Popular leaders only arise in democracies that are not in accord with the law [Aristotle] |
22576 | No office is permanent in a democracy [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] |
22549 | In many cases, the claim that the majority is superior would apply equally to wild beasts [Aristotle] |
22575 | Ultimate democracy is tyranny [Aristotle] |
22531 | We aim to understand the best possible community for free people [Aristotle] |
22589 | Citizens do not just own themselves, but are also parts of the city [Aristotle] |
2131 | Is there anything better for a community than to produce excellent people? [Plato] |
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] |
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] |
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] |
22568 | Faction is for inferiors to be equal, and equals to become superior [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] |
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] |
22556 | Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules [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] |
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] |
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] |
2148 | To gain knowledge, turn away from the world of change, and focus on true goodness [Plato] |
2152 | Dialectic is the highest and most important part of the curriculum [Plato] |
2842 | Men learn partly by habit, and partly by listening [Aristotle] |
2153 | Compulsory intellectual work never remains in the mind [Plato] |
2844 | Abortions should be procured before the embryo has acquired life and sensation [Aristotle] |
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] |
2836 | God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature [Aristotle] |
2630 | If Plato's God is immaterial, he will lack consciousness, wisdom, pleasure and movement, which are essential to him [Cicero on Plato] |
6291 | No one is good except God [Jesus] |
14 | If the gods are non-existent or indifferent, why bother to deceive them? [Plato] |
2802 | Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle [Aristotle] |
7351 | Jesus turned the ideas of Hillel into a theology reduced to its moral elements [Jesus, by Johnson,P] |
2165 | Something is unlikely to be immortal if it is imperfectly made from diverse parts [Plato] |
13 | Is the supreme reward for virtue to be drunk for eternity? [Plato] |
2120 | God is responsible for the good things, but we must look elsewhere for the cause of the bad things [Plato] |