Combining Philosophers

All the ideas for Rescher,N/Oppenheim,P, Todd May and Helen Cartwright

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5 ideas

1. Philosophy / H. Continental Philosophy / 1. Continental Philosophy
Deleuze relies on Spinoza (immanence), Bergson (duration), and difference (Nietzsche) [May]
     Full Idea: The three tripods on which the philosophy of Deleuze stands are immanence (Spinoza), duration (Bergson), and the affirmation of difference (Nietzsche).
     From: Todd May (Gilles Deleuze [2006], 2.12)
     A reaction: [Just to begin sketching how continental philosophy sees its tradition].
5. Theory of Logic / F. Referring in Logic / 1. Naming / d. Singular terms
A 'singulariser' converts a plural like 'number of' to a syntactically neutral form [Cartwright,H, by Hossack]
     Full Idea: Helen Cartwright calls 'a number of' a 'singulariser', an expression whose linguistic function is to convert to a syntactically neutral form an expression whose semantic value remains plural. It is a great convenience grammatically.
     From: report of Helen Cartwright (On Plural Reference and Set Theory [1993]) by Keith Hossack - Plurals and Complexes 2
     A reaction: Compare Hofweber's Idea 10004, suggesting it is a crucial psychological convenience for reasoning, as well as a 'grammatical' convenience.
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 8. Parts of Objects / c. Wholes from parts
A whole must have one characteristic, an internal relation, and a structure [Rescher/Oppenheim]
     Full Idea: A whole must possess an attribute peculiar to and characteristic of it as a whole; there must be a characteristic relation of dependence between the parts; and the whole must have some structure which gives it characteristics.
     From: Rescher,N/Oppenheim,P (Logical Analysis of Gestalt Concepts [1955], p.90), quoted by Peter Simons - Parts 9.2
     A reaction: Simons says these are basically sensible conditions, and tries to fill them out. They seem a pretty good start, and I must resist the temptation to rush to borderline cases.
23. Ethics / F. Existentialism / 1. Existentialism
For existentialists the present is empty without the pull of the future and weight of the past [May]
     Full Idea: For the existential view of lived time, the present would be empty if it were not for the pull of the future and the weight of the past that give it its character.
     From: Todd May (Gilles Deleuze [2006], 2.05)
     A reaction: Bergson seems to be important in developing this idea, though I suspect that Kierkegaard is a source.
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics
Liberal theory starts from the governed, not from the governor [May]
     Full Idea: For liberal theory, it is the individual to be governed, not the governor, who is the starting point.
     From: Todd May (Gilles Deleuze [2006], 4.02)
     A reaction: I'm inclined to see this as the single-handed achievement of Thomas Hobbes, who starts from the need of citizens to secure their contracts. Plato's society starts from entrepreneurs, but their need for a ruler seems a priori.