Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Mahaprajnaparamitashastra', 'fragments/reports' and 'Modes of Extension: comment on Fine'

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4 ideas

18. Thought / E. Abstraction / 7. Abstracta by Equivalence
18883 Any equivalence relation among similar things allows the creation of an abstractum [Simons]
     Full Idea: Whenever we have an equivalence relation among things - such as similarity in a certain respect - we can abstract under the equivalence and consider the abstractum.
     From: Peter Simons (Modes of Extension: comment on Fine [2008], p.19)
     A reaction: This strikes me as dressing up old-fashioned psychological abstractionism in the respectable clothing of Fregean equivalences (such as 'directions'). We can actually do what Simons wants without the precision of partitioned equivalence classes.
18884 Abstraction is usually seen as producing universals and numbers, but it can do more [Simons]
     Full Idea: Abstraction as a cognitive tool has been associated predominantly with the metaphysics of universals and of mathematical objects such as numbers. But it is more widely applicable beyond this standard range. I commend its judicious use.
     From: Peter Simons (Modes of Extension: comment on Fine [2008], p.21)
     A reaction: Personally I think our view of the world is founded on three psychological principles: abstraction, idealisation and generalisation. You can try to give them rigour, as 'equivalence classes', or 'universal quantifications', if it makes you feel better.
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 1. Virtue Theory / a. Nature of virtue
467 A virtue is a combination of intelligence, strength and luck [Ion]
     Full Idea: The virtue of each thing is a Triad: intelligence, strength, luck.
     From: Ion (fragments/reports [c.435 BCE], B1), quoted by (who?) - where?
23. Ethics / C. Virtue Theory / 3. Virtues / a. Virtues
7903 The six perfections are giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom [Nagarjuna]
     Full Idea: The six perfections are of giving, morality, patience, vigour, meditation, and wisdom.
     From: Nagarjuna (Mahaprajnaparamitashastra [c.120], 88)
     A reaction: What is 'morality', if giving is not part of it? I like patience and vigour being two of the virtues, which immediately implies an Aristotelian mean (which is always what is 'appropriate').