Combining Texts

All the ideas for 'Mahaprajnaparamitashastra', 'Metaphysics: a very short introduction' and 'Lectures on the History of Philosophy'

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6 ideas

1. Philosophy / D. Nature of Philosophy / 3. Philosophy Defined

21757	Philosophy is the conceptual essence of the shape of history [Hegel]
	Full Idea: Philosophy is the supreme blossom - the concept - of the entire shape of history, the consciousness and the spiritual essence of the whole situation, the spirit of the age as the spirit present and aware of itself in thought.
	From: Georg W.F.Hegel (Lectures on the History of Philosophy [1830], p.25), quoted by Stephen Houlgate - An Introduction to Hegel 01
	A reaction: This sees philosophy as intrinsically historical, which is a founding idea for 'continental' philosophy. Analysis is tied to science, in which the history of the subject is seen as irrelevant to its truth. Does this mean we can't go back to Aristotle?

9. Objects / B. Unity of Objects / 2. Substance / a. Substance

18617	Substances, unlike aggregates, can survive a change of parts [Mumford]
	Full Idea: Substances can survive a change in their parts in a way that a mere aggregate of parts.
	From: Stephen Mumford (Metaphysics: a very short introduction [2012], 3)
	A reaction: A simple but very important idea. If we then distinguish between 'substances' and 'aggregates' we get a much clearer grip on things. Is the Ship of Theseus a substance or an aggregate? There is no factual answer to that. What do you want to explain?

10. Modality / B. Possibility / 3. Combinatorial possibility

18618	Maybe possibilities are recombinations of the existing elements of reality [Mumford]
	Full Idea: It has been suggested that we could think of possibilities as recombinations of all the existing elements of reality.
	From: Stephen Mumford (Metaphysics: a very short introduction [2012], 8)
	A reaction: [Armstrong 1989 is the source] The obvious problem would be that the existence of an entirely different reality would be impossible, if this was all possibility could be. It seems to cramp the style of the possible too much. Are properties elements?

18619	Combinatorial possibility has to allow all elements to be combinable, which seems unlikely [Mumford]
	Full Idea: The combinatorial account only works if you allow that the elements are recombinable. ...But could Lincoln really have been green? It seems possible that you could jump to the moon, unless we impose some restrictions.
	From: Stephen Mumford (Metaphysics: a very short introduction [2012], 8)
	A reaction: Mumford suggests different combination rules for logical and natural possibility. The general objection is that combinatorial possibility is too permissive - which it clearly is.

18620	Combinatorial possibility relies on what actually exists (even over time), but there could be more [Mumford]
	Full Idea: Can combinatorial possibility deliver enough possibilities? It uses the existing elements, but there might have been one more particular or one more property. Even extended over time, the elements seem finite, yet there could have been more.
	From: Stephen Mumford (Metaphysics: a very short introduction [2012], 8)
	A reaction: [compressed] One objection is that the theory allows too much, and now the objection is that it allows too little. Both objections are correct, so that's the end of that. But I admire the attempt to base modality on actuality.

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').