RoR: Forum

Post 0

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 - 4:15am

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Thanks Ted.

In response to what's occurred here, I think it was necessary to post this.

;-)

Ed
[just needed to comment]

Post 1

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 - 7:44am

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This argument is older than I realized. People usually attribute it to Kant (Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, part 3), but here it is, centuries earlier. It also shows up in the Objectivist literature.

Supposedly the argument runs afoul of the theory of types, but I've never understood how, even after asking several working philosophers.

Post 2

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 - 3:24pm

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Rehashing the Greeks

Diogenes Laertius' Lives of the Eminent Philosphers would probably be the source to check to see who first made this argument. (The Loeb Classical Library Edition is invaluable to any student of philosophy.) Kant said nothing that someone hadn't already said, he just said it less clearly. Several similar arguments appeared among the Greeks, and Epicurus was not the first to formulate it.

Ted Keer

Post 3

Wednesday, September 26, 2007 - 7:21pm

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Ted:

Very good finding; not everyone happens to pick up Epicurus nowadays. Like Peter, am surprised to see this 'argument' going so way far back, plus, (HA!) everything being so concisely and simply put!

LLAP
J:D

(Edited by John Dailey on 9/26, 7:22pm)