The great quotations topic.

@Arjen,

"esse est percipi" translated into english means: "To be is to be perceived."

Any guesses on who said it?

@Arjen,

I am puzzled by this quote Pyth, but I am unsure of what question to ask. Let me start by this one: Is english the authors language?

@Arjen,

Arjen wrote:

I am puzzled by this quote Pyth, but I am unsure of what question to ask. Let me start by this one: Is english the authors language?

Yes, Arjen:) english; early modern.

@Arjen,

I have looked up some early modern english philosophers. The list isn't all that long (if th ephilosopher in question is well known that is). I am guessing John Locke, but only because he wrote an essay concerning human understanding. The quote would seem to fit in with that work.

@Arjen,

Arjen, 'to be is to be perceived' means that reality is wholly subjective. The philosopher in question proposed a theory of thorough going subjectivism in contradistintion to Locke's theory of ideas.

The subjectivist philosopher who challenged Locke with his own brand of empiricism was none other than: Bishop Berkeley!! I will say that both Locke and Berkeley are still popular.

Nice try anyway Arjen. Now that I've told you the answer it's your turn to mystifiy me with a mystery philosopher.

By the way how did your test on Neo-Platonism turn out?

Be well,
-Pyth

@Pythagorean,

Pythagorean wrote:

Arjen, 'to be is to be perceived' means that reality is wholly subjective. The philosopher in question proposed a theory of thorough going subjectivism in contradistintion to Locke's theory of ideas.

Well, I was baffled by it. I did think of tis argument however, but the name I came up with was David Hume. He is a Scotsman, so it couldn't be him.

Quote:

The subjectivist philosopher who challenged Locke with his own brand of empiricism was none other than: Bishop Berkeley!! I will say that both Locke and Berkeley are still popular.

I am not familliar with mr Berkley's work. But at least now I have a frame of reference with him. Thank you.

Quote:

Nice try anyway Arjen. Now that I've told you the answer it's your turn to mystifiy me with a mystery philosopher.

quote important and well known philosophers and make the rest guess who said it. If you don't know, ask a question and the quote poster will have to answer. The one who guesses the name of the philosopher in question is next.

The rules:
- One person states a quote by a philosopher.
- People try to guess the name or ask questions.
- Nobody searches the internet for the quote (would be a spoiler).

Mystery Philosopher wrote:

Meaning just ain't in the head!

@Arjen,

That's quite a colourful quote! Very intriguing indeed.

Now, judging by the use of language I would have to surmise that this is a 20th Century philosopher, probably an Anglo. Which doesn't leave me with many choices. Sad

I'm going to go out on a limb here and take a wild guess and say Bertrand Russell, although I don't know why Russell would say those words.

So Bertrand Russell, my final answer. ?

--

@Arjen,

It indeed is a philosopher of the 20th century, but not Bertrand Russel. The philosopher in question is (among others) active on the field of language philosophy.

Perhaps you need a few questions to determine who spoke (and is still speaking) these words.

@Arjen,

AaHaa! He's a living philospher. O.K. Didn't expect that.

Language or analytical philosophy is one area where I am weak. I don't see how I could narrow it down since I've hardly read them.

I know only a few: I do know of Richard Dawkins, whose recent book "The God Delusion" is on the best seller list.

I know he is an analytical philosopher.

I'm gonna have to guess him. So is it the atheist and soul-less analytical anti-Christ Richard Dawkins? ?

@Arjen,

No. Shall we wait for others to join in the game or shall I just let you in on the secret?

@Arjen,

Hillary Putnam when speaking on the theory of Twin Earths said "meaning just ain't in the head!"

Others have quoted it in different context, but I believe it was Putnam who said it first.

@Arjen,

Bingo, we have a winner! Now it is your turn to puzzle us with a quote from a well known philosopher. And may I ask if you would post the rules along side the quote so everybody who reads the last quote will also know how to play?

Smile

@Arjen,

Aristoddler, you are 'it'.

It is now your turn to post a quote from a 'mystery philosopher' so that we may guess at who it is.

--?

@Pythagorean,

Think I'll go again see if I can get this started back up.

quote important and well known philosophers and make the rest guess who said it. If you don't know, ask a question and the quote poster will have to answer. The one who guesses the name of the philosopher in question is next.

The rules:
- One person states a quote by a philosopher.
- People try to guess the name or ask questions.
- Nobody searches the internet for the quote (would be a spoiler).

Mystery Philosopher wrote:

Out of life's school of war, what does not kill me makes me stronger.

Guess who said it. (remember no looking it up on the inter-webs) Smile

@Arjen,

You are correct, sir! [useless side-note: movie star Angeleena Jolie has this very quote by Nietzsche tatooed in latin on her arm! Bizzare? Yes. But true! She might be called the uber-wench?]

Congratulations, Arjen. Now it's your serve. Smile

@Arjen,

quote important and well known philosophers and make the rest guess who said it. If you don't know, ask a question and the quote poster will have to answer. The one who guesses the name of the philosopher in question is next.

The rules:
- One person states a quote by a philosopher.
- People try to guess the name or ask questions.
- Nobody searches the internet for the quote (would be a spoiler).

MystheryPhylosopher wrote:

By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher.

@Arjen,

I might need some help on this one, Arjen. I know it must be 20th Century philosophy but beyond that I'm drawing a blank.

I'll take a wild guess and say its Bertrand Russell. ? (I was gonna say Dr. Sigmund Freud but I don't think he's technically a philsopher.)

@Arjen,

Tip 1) It is definately not a 20th century philosopher.
Tip 2) The original language of the quote and of the philosopher in question is Greek.

@Arjen,

Oh, Arjen, I think I know!

It's Epicurus the hedonist.

?

Smile

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The great quotations topic.

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