Combining Philosophers

All the ideas for Anaxarchus, Andrew Shorten and Jos A. Benardete

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44 ideas

1. Philosophy / E. Nature of Metaphysics / 1. Nature of Metaphysics
Metaphysics focuses on Platonism, essentialism, materialism and anti-realism [Benardete,JA]
1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 5. Linguistic Analysis
There are the 'is' of predication (a function), the 'is' of identity (equals), and the 'is' of existence (quantifier) [Benardete,JA]
1. Philosophy / F. Analytic Philosophy / 7. Limitations of Analysis
Analytical philosophy analyses separate concepts successfully, but lacks a synoptic vision of the results [Benardete,JA]
1. Philosophy / G. Scientific Philosophy / 1. Aims of Science
Presumably the statements of science are true, but should they be taken literally or not? [Benardete,JA]
4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 1. Set Theory
Set theory attempts to reduce the 'is' of predication to mathematics [Benardete,JA]
The set of Greeks is included in the set of men, but isn't a member of it [Benardete,JA]
4. Formal Logic / F. Set Theory ST / 4. Axioms for Sets / a. Axioms for sets
The standard Z-F Intuition version of set theory has about ten agreed axioms [Benardete,JA, by PG]
5. Theory of Logic / A. Overview of Logic / 5. First-Order Logic
Liberal Nationalism says welfare states and democracy needed a shared sense of nationality [Shorten]
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 2. Geometry
Greeks saw the science of proportion as the link between geometry and arithmetic [Benardete,JA]
6. Mathematics / A. Nature of Mathematics / 3. Nature of Numbers / b. Types of number
Negatives, rationals, irrationals and imaginaries are all postulated to solve baffling equations [Benardete,JA]
Natural numbers are seen in terms of either their ordinality (Peano), or cardinality (set theory) [Benardete,JA]
7. Existence / B. Change in Existence / 4. Events / a. Nature of events
If slowness is a property of walking rather than the walker, we must allow that events exist [Benardete,JA]
7. Existence / C. Structure of Existence / 8. Stuff / a. Pure stuff
Early pre-Socratics had a mass-noun ontology, which was replaced by count-nouns [Benardete,JA]
8. Modes of Existence / D. Universals / 6. Platonic Forms / d. Forms critiques
If there is no causal interaction with transcendent Platonic objects, how can you learn about them? [Benardete,JA]
9. Objects / C. Structure of Objects / 5. Composition of an Object
Why should packed-together particles be a thing (Mt Everest), but not scattered ones? [Benardete,JA]
9. Objects / D. Essence of Objects / 6. Essence as Unifier
Could a horse lose the essential property of being a horse, and yet continue to exist? [Benardete,JA]
9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 2. Objects that Change
If a soldier continues to exist after serving as a soldier, does the wind cease to exist after it ceases to blow? [Benardete,JA]
9. Objects / E. Objects over Time / 8. Continuity of Rivers
One can step into the same river twice, but not into the same water [Benardete,JA]
9. Objects / F. Identity among Objects / 5. Self-Identity
Maybe self-identity isn't existence, if Pegasus can be self-identical but non-existent [Benardete,JA]
Absolutists might accept that to exist is relative, but relative to what? How about relative to itself? [Benardete,JA]
12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 1. Nature of the A Priori
The clearest a priori knowledge is proving non-existence through contradiction [Benardete,JA]
12. Knowledge Sources / A. A Priori Knowledge / 5. A Priori Synthetic
Appeals to intuition seem to imply synthetic a priori knowledge [Benardete,JA]
Logical positivism amounts to no more than 'there is no synthetic a priori' [Benardete,JA]
Assertions about existence beyond experience can only be a priori synthetic [Benardete,JA]
If we know truths about prime numbers, we seem to have synthetic a priori knowledge of Platonic objects [Benardete,JA]
13. Knowledge Criteria / D. Scepticism / 1. Scepticism
Anaxarchus said that he was not even sure that he knew nothing [Anaxarchus, by Diog. Laertius]
20. Action / C. Motives for Action / 5. Action Dilemmas / c. Omissions
Utilitarians conflate acts and omissions; causing to drown and failing to save are the same [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 1. Social Power
There are eight different ways in which groups of people can be oppressed [Shorten, by PG]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 1. Ideology
Constitutional Patriotism unites around political values (rather than national identity) [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy
Democracy is a method of selection, or it involves participation, or it concerns public discussion [Shorten]
Some say democracy is intrinsically valuable, others that it delivers good outcomes [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
Representative should be either obedient, or sensible, or typical [Shorten]
There is 'mirror representation' when the institution statistically reflects the population [Shorten]
In a changed situation a Mandated Representative can't keep promises and fight for constituents [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / a. Liberalism basics
Liberal citizens have a moral requirement to respect freedom and equality [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / b. Liberal individualism
Maybe the rational autonomous liberal individual is merely the result of domination [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / c. Liberal equality
Liberal equality concerns rights, and liberal freedom concerns choice of ends [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / e. Liberal community
Liberal Nationalism encourages the promotion of nationalistic values [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / g. Liberalism critique
Liberalism should not make assumptions such as the value of choosing your own life plan [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 7. Communitarianism / a. Communitarianism
Liberals treat individuals as mutual strangers, rather than as social beings [Shorten]
24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 14. Nationalism
Liberal Nationalism is more communitarian, and Constitutional Patriotism more cosmopolitan [Shorten]
25. Social Practice / E. Policies / 2. Religion in Society
Religious toleration has been institutionalised by the separation of church and state [Shorten]
27. Natural Reality / C. Space / 3. Points in Space
Rationalists see points as fundamental, but empiricists prefer regions [Benardete,JA]
28. God / B. Proving God / 2. Proofs of Reason / a. Ontological Proof
In the ontological argument a full understanding of the concept of God implies a contradiction in 'There is no God' [Benardete,JA]