bertrand russell

Aristotle’s Ethics (A History of Western Philosophy)

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There are two kinds of virtues: intellectual and moral, corresponding to the two parts of the soul. Intellectual virtues result from teaching, moral virtues from habit. To create a virtuous society, you must create laws that cause citizens to acquire good habits. With time, pleasure comes from performing these good habits.  The Golden Mean The … Read more

Aristotle’s Metaphysics (A History of Western Philosophy)

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Aristotle is similar to Plato, but with more common sense. His argument for God’s existence is the First Cause: There must be something that begins motion, and this “something” must itself be unmoved and eternal. The object of desire and thought cause movement in this way without being in motion themselves. Unlike the billiard ball … Read more

Plato’s Theory of Immortality (A History of Western Philosophy)

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Plato argues that anything that distracts man from the pursuit of the vision of truth and philosophy should be avoided, and this includes the pleasures of the senses. With each instance of pleasure and pain, the soul becomes more closely identified with the body, until there is no longer any separation. Man becomes a purely … Read more

The Theory of Ideas (A History of Western Philosophy)

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Until philosophers are kings, or the kings and princes of this world have the spirit and power of philosophy, and political greatnessand wisdom meet in one, and those commoner natures who pursue either to the exclusion of the other are compelled to stand aside,cities will never have rest from these evils—no, nor the human race, … Read more

The Sources of Plato’s Opinions (A History of Western Philosophy)

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Plato held the aristocratic opinion that only those who were relieved of having to worry about their daily subsistence were capable of gaining wisdom. Who are they? The wealthy and the political elite. But what is wisdom? And how can someone gain political power through wisdom? Perhaps some kind of training is necessary, but what … Read more

Ancient Philosophy (A History of Western Philosophy)

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The Ancient Greeks emphasized the importance of temperance, but they were extreme in everything, in pure thought, in war, and in sin. Their Prototype was Prometheus who brought fire from heaven, and was rewarded with eternal torment. Pythagoras  The nature of mathematical truths is different than those from other sciences, which were derived from false ideas about the world. Astronomy … Read more