206 ideas
| 2845 | Free and great-souled men do not keep asking "what is the use of it?" [Aristotle] |
| 16395 | Kripke separated semantics from metaphysics, rather than linking them, making the latter independent [Kripke, by Stalnaker] |
| 22521 | Our method of inquiry is to examine the smallest parts that make up the whole [Aristotle] |
| 17034 | Analyses of concepts using entirely different terms are very inclined to fail [Kripke] |
| 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] |
| 4955 | Some definitions aim to fix a reference rather than give a meaning [Kripke] |
| 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] |
| 10559 | Kripke's modal semantics presupposes certain facts about possible worlds [Kripke, by Zalta] |
| 10437 | Names are rigid, making them unlike definite descriptions [Kripke, by Sainsbury] |
| 4949 | Names are rigid designators, which designate the same object in all possible worlds [Kripke] |
| 4951 | A bundle of qualities is a collection of abstractions, so it can't be a particular [Kripke] |
| 17031 | A name can still refer even if it satisfies none of its well-known descriptions [Kripke] |
| 8957 | Some references, such as 'Neptune', have to be fixed by description rather than baptism [Kripke, by Szabó] |
| 10428 | Proper names must have referents, because they are not descriptive [Kripke, by Sainsbury] |
| 4959 | A name's reference is not fixed by any marks or properties of the referent [Kripke] |
| 14896 | Kripke's metaphysics (essences, kinds, rigidity) blocks the slide into sociology [Kripke, by Ladyman/Ross] |
| 17647 | Kripke individuates objects by essential modal properties (and presupposes essentialism) [Kripke, by Putnam] |
| 16995 | Given that a table is made of molecules, could it not be molecular and still be this table? [Kripke] |
| 17047 | If we imagine this table made of ice or different wood, we are imagining a different table [Kripke] |
| 22525 | The whole is prior to its parts, because parts are defined by their role [Aristotle] |
| 5450 | For Kripke, essence is origin; for Putnam, essence is properties; for Wiggins, essence is membership of a kind [Kripke, by Mautner] |
| 17055 | Atomic number 79 is part of the nature of the gold we know [Kripke] |
| 16997 | An essential property is true of an object in any case where it would have existed [Kripke] |
| 17045 | De re modality is an object having essential properties [Kripke] |
| 17030 | Important properties of an object need not be essential to it [Kripke] |
| 16955 | Kripke says internal structure fixes species; I say it is genetic affinity and a common descent [Kripke, by Dummett] |
| 16996 | Given that Nixon is indeed a human being, that he might not have been does not concern knowledge [Kripke] |
| 13971 | Kripke claims that some properties, only knowable posteriori, are known a priori to be essential [Kripke, by Soames] |
| 12100 | An essence is the necessary properties, derived from an intuitive identity, in origin, type and material [Kripke, by Witt] |
| 16991 | No one seems to know the identity conditions for a material object (or for people) over time [Kripke] |
| 11867 | If we lose track of origin, how do we show we are maintaining a reference? [Kripke, by Wiggins] |
| 12018 | Kripke argues, of the Queen, that parents of an organism are essentially so [Kripke, by Forbes,G] |
| 17046 | Could the actual Queen have been born of different parents? [Kripke] |
| 8274 | Socrates can't have a necessary origin, because he might have had no 'origin' [Lowe on Kripke] |
| 17036 | Identity statements can be contingent if they rely on descriptions [Kripke] |
| 17038 | If Hesperus and Phosophorus are the same, they can't possibly be different [Kripke] |
| 11880 | Kripke says his necessary a posteriori examples are known a priori to be necessary [Kripke, by Mackie,P] |
| 4797 | Instead of being regularities, maybe natural laws are the weak a posteriori necessities of Kripke [Kripke, by Psillos] |
| 17037 | Physical necessity may be necessity in the highest degree [Kripke] |
| 4728 | Kripke separates necessary and a priori, proposing necessary a posteriori and contingent a priori examples [Kripke, by O'Grady] |
| 16990 | A priori = Necessary because we imagine all worlds, and we know without looking at actuality? [Kripke] |
| 9386 | The meter is defined necessarily, but the stick being one meter long is contingent a priori [Kripke] |
| 4960 | "'Hesperus' is 'Phosphorus'" is necessarily true, if it is true, but not known a priori [Kripke] |
| 4966 | Theoretical identities are between rigid designators, and so are necessary a posteriori [Kripke] |
| 2408 | Kripke has demonstrated that some necessary truths are only knowable a posteriori [Kripke, by Chalmers] |
| 13967 | Kripke's essentialist necessary a posteriori opened the gap between conceivable and really possible [Soames on Kripke] |
| 13970 | Kripke gets to the necessary a posteriori by only allowing conceivability when combined with actuality [Kripke, by Soames] |
| 16992 | Possible worlds aren't puzzling places to learn about, but places we ourselves describe [Kripke] |
| 16993 | If we discuss what might have happened to Nixon, we stipulate that it is about Nixon [Kripke] |
| 16998 | Transworld identification is unproblematic, because we stipulate that we rigidly refer to something [Kripke] |
| 17001 | A table in some possible world should not even be identified by its essential properties [Kripke] |
| 4952 | Identification across possible worlds does not need properties, even essential ones [Kripke] |
| 7761 | Test for rigidity by inserting into the sentence 'N might not have been N' [Kripke, by Lycan] |
| 7693 | Kripke avoids difficulties of transworld identity by saying it is a decision, not a discovery [Kripke, by Jacquette] |
| 5821 | Saying that natural kinds are 'rigid designators' is the same as saying they are 'indexical' [Kripke, by Putnam] |
| 14068 | If Kripke names must still denote a thing in a non-actual situation, the statue isn't its clay [Gibbard on Kripke] |
| 10436 | A rigid expression may refer at a world to an object not existing in that world [Kripke, by Sainsbury] |
| 4953 | We do not begin with possible worlds and place objects in them; we begin with objects in the real world [Kripke] |
| 4961 | It is a necessary truth that Elizabeth II was the child of two particular parents [Kripke] |
| 16986 | That there might have been unicorns is false; we don't know the circumstances for unicorns [Kripke] |
| 22587 | Understanding is the aim of our nature [Aristotle] |
| 8259 | Kripke has breathed new life into the a priori/a posteriori distinction [Kripke, by Lowe] |
| 16989 | Rather than 'a priori truth', it is best to stick to whether some person knows it on a priori evidence [Kripke] |
| 4947 | A priori truths can be known independently of experience - but they don't have to be [Kripke] |
| 13975 | Kripke was more successful in illuminating necessity than a priority (and their relations to analyticity) [Kripke, by Soames] |
| 17048 | Analytic judgements are a priori, even when their content is empirical [Kripke] |
| 4948 | Intuition is the strongest possible evidence one can have about anything [Kripke] |
| 3914 | Language arranges sensory experience to form a world-order [Whorf] |
| 4958 | Identities like 'heat is molecule motion' are necessary (in the highest degree), not contingent [Kripke] |
| 22522 | To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins [Aristotle] |
| 22524 | The nature of each thing is its mature state [Aristotle] |
| 22528 | The nature of all animate things is to have one part which rules it [Aristotle] |
| 4967 | It seems logically possible to have the pain brain state without the actual pain [Kripke] |
| 7430 | Kripke assumes that mind-brain identity designates rigidly, which it doesn't [Armstrong on Kripke] |
| 7867 | If consciousness could separate from brain, then it cannot be identical with brain [Kripke, by Papineau] |
| 3228 | Kripke says pain is necessarily pain, but a brain state isn't necessarily painful [Kripke, by Rey] |
| 5832 | Identity must be necessary, but pain isn't necessarily a brain state, so they aren't identical [Kripke, by Schwartz,SP] |
| 4968 | Identity theorists seem committed to no-brain-event-no-pain, and vice versa, which seems wrong [Kripke] |
| 17874 | Kripke has a definitional account of kinds, but not of naming [Almog on Kripke] |
| 16394 | Kripke derives accounts of reference and proper names from assumptions about worlds and essences [Stalnaker on Kripke] |
| 5822 | The important cause is not between dubbing and current use, but between the item and the speaker's information [Evans on Kripke] |
| 17033 | We may refer through a causal chain, but still change what is referred to [Kripke] |
| 4689 | Kripke makes reference a largely social matter, external to the mind of the speaker [Kripke, by McGinn] |
| 17504 | Kripke's theory is important because it gives a collective account of reference [Kripke, by Putnam] |
| 17035 | We refer through the community, going back to the original referent [Kripke] |
| 16988 | Descriptive reference shows how to refer, how to identify two things, and how to challenge existence [Kripke, by PG] |
| 17029 | It can't be necessary that Aristotle had the properties commonly attributed to him [Kripke] |
| 14893 | Rigid designation creates a puzzle - why do some necessary truths appear to be contingent? [Kripke, by Macià/Garcia-Carpentiro] |
| 22570 | Rhetoric now enables good speakers to become popular leaders [Aristotle] |
| 22574 | A community can lack self-control [Aristotle] |
| 2837 | Nothing contrary to nature is beautiful [Aristotle] |
| 2824 | The collective judgement of many people on art is better than that of an individual [Aristotle] |
| 2846 | Music can mould the character to be virtuous (just as gymnastics trains the body) [Aristotle] |
| 2807 | Some say slavery is unnatural and created by convention, and is therefore forced, and unjust [Aristotle] |
| 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] |
| 22555 | The function of good men is to confer benefits [Aristotle] |
| 22557 | Virtuous people are like the citizens of the best city [Aristotle] |
| 2841 | People become good because of nature, habit and reason [Aristotle] |
| 2829 | The law is the mean [Aristotle] |
| 22590 | Virtue is concerned with correct feelings [Aristotle] |
| 2813 | It is quite possible to live a moderate life and yet be miserable [Aristotle] |
| 22553 | Justice is a virtue of communities [Aristotle] |
| 22561 | The rich are seen as noble, because they don't need to commit crimes [Aristotle] |
| 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] |
| 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] |
| 22532 | A city can't become entirely one, because its very nature is to be a multitude [Aristotle] |
| 22584 | A community should all share to some extent in something like land or food [Aristotle] |
| 22581 | The size of a city is decided by the maximum self-sufficient community that can be surveyed [Aristotle] |
| 22548 | A city aims at living well [Aristotle] |
| 22577 | What is the best life for everyone, and is that a communal or an individual problem? [Aristotle] |
| 22579 | The same four cardinal virtues which apply to individuals also apply to a city [Aristotle] |
| 2431 | Every state is an association formed for some good purpose [Aristotle] |
| 22578 | The happiest city is the one that acts most nobly [Aristotle] |
| 2832 | The state aims to consist as far as possible of those who are like and equal [Aristotle] |
| 2821 | The six constitutions are monarchy/tyranny, aristocracy/oligarchy, and polity/democracy [Aristotle] |
| 22546 | A city is a community of free people, and the constitution should aim at the common advantage [Aristotle] |
| 2835 | Any constitution can be made to last for a day or two [Aristotle] |
| 22580 | The best constitution enables everyone to live the best life [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] |
| 2973 | We must decide the most desirable human life before designing a constitution [Aristotle] |
| 22563 | The middle classes are neither ambitious nor anarchic, which is good [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] |
| 22544 | A citizen is someone who is allowed to hold official posts in a city [Aristotle] |
| 22541 | Kings should be selected according to character [Aristotle] |
| 2819 | The only virtue special to a ruler is practical wisdom [Aristotle] |
| 22542 | People who buy public office will probably expect to profit from it [Aristotle] |
| 22552 | The rich can claim to rule, because of land ownership, and being more trustworthy [Aristotle] |
| 22583 | The guardians should not be harsh to strangers, as no one should behave like that [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] |
| 22572 | Officers should like the constitution, be capable, and have appropriate virtues and justice [Aristotle] |
| 2826 | Like water, large numbers of people are harder to corrupt than a few [Aristotle] |
| 22567 | Democracy arises when people who are given equal freedom assume unconditional equality [Aristotle] |
| 22560 | Popular leaders only arise in democracies that are not in accord with the law [Aristotle] |
| 22562 | Choosing officials by lot is democratic [Aristotle] |
| 2823 | The many may add up to something good, even if they are inferior as individuals [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] |
| 22576 | No office is permanent in a democracy [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] |
| 22564 | Community is based on friends, who are equal and similar, and share things [Aristotle] |
| 22585 | Look at all of the citizens before judging a city to be happy [Aristotle] |
| 22565 | The best communities rely on a large and strong middle class [Aristotle] |
| 22589 | Citizens do not just own themselves, but are also parts of the city [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] |
| 22573 | The virtue of justice may be relative to a particular constitution [Aristotle] |
| 22527 | Justice is the order in a political community [Aristotle] |
| 22547 | Justice is equality for equals, and inequality for unequals [Aristotle] |
| 2825 | The good is obviously justice, which benefits the whole community, and involves equality in some sense [Aristotle] |
| 2816 | If it is easy to change the laws, that makes them weaker [Aristotle] |
| 2806 | Man is the worst of all animals when divorced from law and justice [Aristotle] |
| 22556 | Laws that match people's habits are more effective than mere written rules [Aristotle] |
| 2827 | It is preferable that law should rule rather than any single citizen [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] |
| 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] |
| 2842 | Men learn partly by habit, and partly by listening [Aristotle] |
| 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] |
| 17056 | Terms for natural kinds are very close to proper names [Kripke] |
| 4963 | The properties that fix reference are contingent, the properties involving meaning are necessary [Kripke] |
| 17053 | Gold's atomic number might not be 79, but if it is, could non-79 stuff be gold? [Kripke] |
| 4964 | 'Cats are animals' has turned out to be a necessary truth [Kripke] |
| 6765 | Nominal essence may well be neither necessary nor sufficient for a natural kind [Kripke, by Bird] |
| 9387 | The scientific discovery (if correct) that gold has atomic number 79 is a necessary truth [Kripke] |
| 17054 | Scientific discoveries about gold are necessary truths [Kripke] |
| 17057 | Once we've found that heat is molecular motion, then that's what it is, in all possible worlds [Kripke] |
| 4965 | Science searches basic structures in search of essences [Kripke] |
| 17050 | Tigers may lack all the properties we originally used to identify them [Kripke] |
| 17051 | The original concept of 'cat' comes from paradigmatic instances [Kripke] |
| 17049 | 'Tiger' designates a species, and merely looking like the species is not enough [Kripke] |
| 2836 | God is not blessed and happy because of external goods, but because of his own nature [Aristotle] |
| 2802 | Men imagine gods to be of human shape, with a human lifestyle [Aristotle] |