Single Idea 21569

[catalogued under 15. Nature of Minds / C. Capacities of Minds / 5. Generalisation by mind]

Full Idea

It is a good thing to generalise any truth as much as possible.

Gist of Idea

It is good to generalise truths as much as possible

Source

Bertrand Russell (Philosophical Implications of Mathematical logic [1911], p.289)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'Essays in Analysis', ed/tr. Lackey,Douglas [George Braziller 1973], p.289


A Reaction

An interesting claim, which seems to have a similar status to Ockham's Razor. Its best justification is pragmatic, and concerns strategies for coping with a big messy world. Russell's defence is in 'as much as possible'.

Related Ideas

Idea 15970 People generalise because it is easier to understand, and that is mistaken for deep philosophy [Feynman]

Idea 12126 People love (unfortunately) extreme generality, rather than particular knowledge [Bacon]