“Part of my methodological approach is made explicit when I discuss ways in which literature can have philosophical significance. Literature doesn't typically argue - and when it does, it's deadly dull. But literature can supply the frame within which we come to observe and reason, or it can change our frame in highly significant ways. That's one of the achievements I'd claim for Mann, and for Death in Venice.” WayDoeMadeReasonLiteratureAchievementApproachClaimsPhilosophicalArguingSignificantDullSignificanceVeniceExplicitDeath In Venice Author:Philip Kitcher
“Constraint theory argues a number of things. First, that the impossible has to be identified. Second, that the actor is then constrained by circumstances to act a certain way. For example, should we invade ISIS? Can we invade ISIS? What would it take to invade ISIS? Once you ask that question you discover the price of that option and then you take a look at American politics and see that the country is probably not prepared to invest the 2 to 3 million people that it would take to defeat ISIS and the insurgency afterwards. All right, so that's not going to happen.” PeopleWayShouldFirstsLooksCountryHappensCertainActorsAsksNumbersMillionsImpossibleExampleTheoryCircumstancesPreparedDefeatArguingAmerican PoliticsIsisConstraintsInsurgency Author:George Friedman
“Bealer argues that the kind of naturalistic view which Quine holds will rob him of the ability to make the normative claims which (many) naturalists wish to make in epistemology. I don't think this is right about Quine, but I'm certain it's not right about my own view. To the extent that I can show that talk of knowledge is firmly rooted within empirical theories where it plays an important explanatory role, I thereby demonstrate its naturalistic credentials.” ThinkingKindI CanImportantPlayShowsCertainWishMy OwnAbilityViewsRolesTheoryClaimsArguingRootedEpistemologyNaturalistCredentials Author:Hilary Kornblith
“What I argue is that talk of knowledge plays an important role in theories within cognitive ethology. The idea is this. First, one sees cognitive ethologists arguing that we need to attribute propositional attitudes to some animals in order to explain the sophistication of their cognitive achievements.” NeedsFirstsImportantIdeasPlayOrderAnimalAttitudeRolesTheoryAchievementArguingAttributesCognitiveSophistication Author:Hilary Kornblith
“Talk of belief in these animals is not some kind of anthropomorphism. We simply cannot explain the kinds of problem solving and behavioral sophistication some species exhibit without supposing that they have genuine beliefs. But once these ethologists finish making the case for animal belief, they quickly move to talk of animal knowledge as well. What I argue is that this is not a mere façon de parler.” WellsKindProblemMovingBeliefAnimalCasesMereSpeciesArguingGenuineProblem SolvingExhibitsSophisticationSupposingSupposing ThatAnthropomorphism Author:Hilary Kornblith
“Ethologists thus have an interest in looking at these capacities for the reliable acquisition of belief, and it is not surprising that they have a name for the true beliefs which are the typical product of these reliable capacities. They call them items of knowledge. So I argue that talk of knowledge may thereby be seen to be embedded within a successful empirical theory.” MayNamesBeliefInterestSuccessfulProductsTheoryCapacityArguingSurprisingTypicalItemsAcquisitionEmbedded Author:Hilary Kornblith
“The fact that these scientific theories have a fine track record of successful prediction and explanation speaks for itself. (Which is not to say that I don't directly discuss the work of those philosophers who would disagree.) But even if we grant this, many will argue that scientific knowledge in humans, and, indeed, reflective knowledge in general, is quite different in kind from the knowledge we see in other animals.” IfsHumansKindDifferentFactsSpeakAnimalSuccessfulRecordsTheoryFineTrackPhilosopherArguingExplanationGrantsDisagreePredictionsScientific KnowledgeScientific TheoryTrack Record Author:Hilary Kornblith
“I argue is that philosophers have had a tendency to present a kind of mystical view of the powers of reflection. Unreflective belief acquisition is seen in mechanistic terms, but when philosophers talk about reflection, it is as if reflective processes are not bound by the kinds of limitations which inevitably arise from being embedded within the same causal structure which governs unreflective belief acquisition.” IfsKindBeliefProcessTermViewsReflectionStructureBoundsPhilosopherArguingAriseTendenciesLimitationMysticalAcquisitionEmbedded Author:Hilary Kornblith
“By arguing that the bundle theory does not entail and is not committed in any way to the principle of identity of indiscernibles, I have thereby defended the bundle theory from a traditional objection to it.” WayDoePrinciplesIdentityTheoryCommittedArguingTraditionalObjectionsBundles Author:Gonzalo Rodriguez-Pereyra
“I wanted to write a book that showed how the subjectification of the "the murderer" has changed little in over a hundred years, and to argue that this "exceptional figure" serves a conservative function in modern culture that bears closer interrogation than it has commonly received.” WritingYearsLittlesBookWantedCultureModernFiguresChangedBearsHundredFunctionConservativeArguingMurdererExceptionalInterrogationModern Culture Author:Richard Marshall
“I argue, based on metaphysical and physical considerations, that we should think of the fundamental parts of the world as a mix of intrinsic natures, rather like a paint-pot filled with a rainbow of colors, loosely mixed to give a richly varied, spatiotemporally inseparable, spread of qualities, and that this mixture is what gives rise to ordinary reality.” ThinkingWorldGivingShouldRealityQualityColorOrdinaryFundamentalsFilledPaintSpreadArguingConsiderationPotRainbowMetaphysicalMixturesInseparable Author:L.A. Paul
“I argue against literal interpretation of religious doctrines. Religions make progress when they emancipate themselves from literalism, and take their doctrinal statements to be metaphors or allegories.” ReligiousProgressMetaphorArguingStatementsDoctrineInterpretationLiteralAllegory Author:Philip Kitcher
“In my current work on global warming, I argue that the only apparent solution to the deep problem of climate change would require very large transfers of wealth from rich nations to poor nations, so that the entire world can make the transition to renewable forms of energy as fast as possible.” WorldProblemFormEnergyNationsWealthPoorRichSolutionsClimateClimate ChangeCurrentsArguingGlobal WarmingTransitionTransfersPoor Nations Author:Philip Kitcher
“As countries get wealthier - all of them, together - you're going to have financial assets. That is a good thing. You could argue the assets were traded too much, or that they're too highly valued, or too leveraged.” CountryTogetherToo MuchGood ThingsFinancialArguingAssets Author:Jamie Dimon
“I think one could argue that there's more political input into the regulatory side, and on the regulatory side there seem to be fewer people with financial and banking experience - there are more lawyers, academics, economists, maybe politicians now.” PeopleThinkingSeemsPoliticalSidesPoliticianFinancialLawyerArguingFewerEconomistBankingInput Author:Jamie Dimon
“Andrew Hacker argues that algebra and trigonometry and calculus are subjects that almost nobody used after they graduate, and so why should we continue to compel students to try to pass them?” ShouldTryingUsedSubjectsStudentsArguingGraduatesAndrewAlgebraCalculusHackersTrigonometry Author:Anya Kamenetz
“I think I want to go in to law or oncology, as those are both subjects that really interest me, but my parents say that I should be a politician since I am so good at arguing!” ThinkingWantShouldLawParentInterestSubjectsPoliticianArguingOncology Author:Joshua Rush
“I do not argue that nature is sacrosanct in the sense that we must never tamper with nature. That would disempower, really, all of medicine. That would mean that we can't combat dread diseases - malaria, polio, all of which are given by nature, if one thinks about it.” IfsThinkingMeanGivenDiseaseMedicineArguingCombatDreadMalariaPolio Author:Michael Sandel
“We don't really listen to what the other person is saying. We have gotten used to information being in such a concentrated form all the time, and so continuously, that conversation somehow seems inadequate for a lot of people, and therefore they can't join in it. You notice how many people can't argue anymore - without getting very upset.” PeoplePersonsSeemsFormUsedInformationConversationArguingUpsetInadequate Author:John Gimlette
“I've been arguing with people for 10 years about tape versus digital, and I believe tape is absolutely essential in getting the sound that's conducive to the enjoyment of music.” PeopleYearsBelieveI BelieveSoundEssentialsArguingEnjoymentDigitalTapeVersus Author:Beck
“Since I didn't spend a great amount of time on writing the lyrics, some people would argue that they're too vague or simplistic, but I think it's kind of good. I wouldn't say they're all stream of consciousness, but they're not necessarily overwrought.” PeopleThinkingWritingKindConsciousnessAmountArguingStreamsVagueStream Of Consciousness Author:Jack Tatum
“I certainly think so, and I argue so, and I give talks on that. Are there risks by putting people together? Absolutely. Is there value in the black church? Absolutely. Is there value in having immigrant churches? Absolutely. But if we don't have congregations gathering with people of different races, what we're doing is we are redefining racial division, a racial inequality.” PeopleIfsThinkingGivingDifferentTogetherValuesBlackChurchRaceRiskArguingInequalityImmigrantsDivisionGatheringCongregationDifferent RacesRedefiningBlack Church Author:Michael Emerson
“The pull of Guyland reminds us that women cannot accomplish this transformation alone. In the book's final chapter I argue that just as men need to stand up, do the right thing and break the silence that perpetuates Guyland, so, too, do women need to support each other in resisting its pull.” MenNeedsBookSilenceBreakSupportTransformationFinalsAccomplishArguingRight ThingChaptersResisting Author:Michael Kimmel
“A state rep in Oklahoma gave a horrific speech where she felt the homosexual agenda was a greater threat to America than terrorism. People like this - there's not hate in their hearts. They believe what they believe because of the book that they prescribe to. You can't argue with these people.” PeopleBelieveHeartBookStatesAmericaHateFeltGreaterSpeechThreatTerrorismArguingAgendasHomosexualHorrificOklahoma Author:Leslie Jordan
“The reality is that if you - let's say you just pulled encryption. Let's ban it. Let's you and I ban it tomorrow. And so we sit in Congress and we say, thou shalt not have encryption. What happens then? Well, I would argue that the bad guys will use encryption from non-American companies, because they're pretty smart.” IfsWellsUseRealityHappensGuyCompanyTomorrowSmartCongressArguingBad GuysBansEncryption Author:Tim Cook
“Every chance at destabilizing [Bashar] Assad... the bombing campaign causes a flood of refugees into Jordan, there's already half a million in Jordan. I think a bombing campaign - I think it's hard to argue that a U.S. bombing campaign is going to cause less refugees. And I think it causes more refugees and more of a humanitarian disaster. I think it causes, or allows, the risk of Israel being attacked with a gas attack to go up, if we attack Assad. So there's all kinds of bad things.” IfsThinkingKindHardCausesChanceHalfMillionsRiskIsraelHumanitarianArguingCampaignsDisasterAll KindsGasBad ThingsFloodRefugeeJordanBombingAssad Author:Rand Paul
“I am pleased though that there's a possibility of a diplomatic solution [in Syria]. I remain somewhat skeptical, but I am pleased that it's a possibility and I think people like myself who've been arguing for delaying this bombing, have allowed this diplomatic possibility to occur.” PeopleThinkingPossibilitySolutionsArguingSyriaSkepticalBombingDiplomatic Author:Rand Paul
“I had a relationship with an Italian chick that was built on just fighting and sex. As much as all women won't let go of stuff, Italian girls won't let go of anything. And she punched really hard. I got tired of the arguing it took to get to the sex.” HardGirlFightingSexStuffLetting GoBuiltTiredArguingItalianChicksItalian Girl Author:Denis Leary
“I accused a woman of doing something behind my back when I knew that she hadn't, just to see if she loved me. One of a man's secret weapons in dealing with women is knowing the day you stop reacting to my bullshit is the day I feel like I've lost you, even if I'm creating a problem just so we can argue about it.” IfsMenFeelsProblemLostSecretBehindsKnowingCreatingWeaponsArguingBullshitAccusedBack WhenReactingLost YouBehind My Back Author:Tyrese Gibson
“When I think about the future, I'm not necessarily arguing it's going to be better or worse. I'm just saying it's going to be different.” ThinkingDifferentArguingJust Saying Author:Chuck Klosterman
“The reason that people in the intellectual community argue that football is dangerous is because there's now a large swath of society that has no relationship to physicality or potential violence.” PeopleReasonCommunityViolenceDangerousFootballIntellectualArguingPhysicality Author:Chuck Klosterman
“I understand perfectly well why the Catholic Church preaches against abortion. But it shouldn't be the purpose of the Catholic Church to prevent non-Catholics from having abortions if they feel that abortions are morally acceptable. They can certainly only argue for what they believe to be right in the court of public opinion and try to persuade people.” PeopleIfsFeelsTryingBelieveWellsPurposeChurchOpinionCatholicCourtArguingAbortionAcceptablePublic OpinionCatholic ChurchAgainst Abortion Author:Andrew Solomon
“In these xenophobic times, when politicians are stoking everyone's anxiety about threats from abroad, I would argue that engaging with the rest of the world is not only a luxury, in the way that travel is, but actually a moral responsibility.” WorldWayResponsibilityMoralPoliticianAnxietyThreatArguingLuxuryEngagingMoral Responsibility Author:Andrew Solomon
“Beauty is on one level pure surface, and on the other hand, it's the most complex subject that we can touch upon because it says everything about us as people. It's a subject we very quickly begin to argue about. I think that's so interesting.” PeopleThinkingHandsInterestingLevelsSubjectsPureComplexesSurfaceArguing Author:Nicolas Winding Refn
“My idea in terms of managing a narrative, or in thinking in my creative life, is that you could easily argue that the past, the present and the future all occur simultaneously, and if you can postulate that, then you're not strictly bound to a linear narrative.” IfsThinkingIdeasPastLife IsTermCreativeBoundsArguingNarrativeLinearCreative Life Author:Tommy Lee Jones
“I don't think I ever would have had a problem being vulnerable or introspective but the problem with drinking is it's very hard to zero in on one part. You're not dealing with anything in real time, you're constantly moving and constantly going. You're drinking to get away from things, things your dealing with. My wife might be calling me trying to argue and I don't wanna deal with it so I just go drink and by the time we talk again I'm so drunk I just don't care. I'll just deal with it however.” ThinkingTryingRealHardProblemMightCareMovingDealsWifeDrinkCallingDrinkingDon't CareMy WifeArguingDrunkVulnerableGet AwayZeroIntrospectiveConstantly Moving Author:Ryan Montgomery
“I'm arguing for progressive positions on behalf of a progressive administration in front of a court who, before Justice [Antonin] Scalia's death, had a conservative majority that was quite conservative, frankly.” JusticeFrontsPositionMajorityCourtConservativeArguingAdministrationProgressiveBehalf Author:Donald Verrilli Jr.
“Some people may argue that if the animals are treated humanely prior to being slaughtered, this justifies their confinement and slaughter. Is it ethical to rob beings of their freedom but give them a comfortable prison and provide them with food until they become fat enough to be slaughtered? Any way you look at it, farms are places where animals are kept in preparation to be slaughtered and ultimately eaten as food.” PeopleIfsWayGivingLooksMayEnoughAnimalComfortablePrisonArguingTreatedFatsPreparationJustifyEthicalFarmsSlaughterConfinement Author:Sharon Gannon
“Lions and other carnivorous animals do a lot of things besides eat meat. They live outdoors, not in houses; they don't wear clothes or drive around in cars; they usually sleep for many hours after eating a meal. Why cite just one of the many things that they do and argue that we should imitate them? This doesn't make much sense.” ShouldHouseHoursSleepAnimalCarEatingClothesArguingMeatMealsJust OneLionsCiting Author:Sharon Gannon
“There are many activities that human beings have been doing "forever." We might argue from that perspective that eating meat should be allowed to continue. Men have been raping women for thousands of years; does that mean that it is normal and should be allowed to continue?” MenShouldYearsHumansMeanDoeHas BeensMightHuman BeingsForeverPerspectiveActivityNormalEatingArguingMeatEating Meat Author:Sharon Gannon
“I believe strongly that we need a finance industry that is good for the economy, and I don't think anybody would argue that during the eight years leading up to the Great Recession, a lot of bets were made [and] risks taken that weren't good for the economy.” ThinkingNeedsYearsBelieveMadeI BelieveEconomyTakenRiskIndustryEightArguingFinanceRecessionsGreat Recession Author:Hillary Clinton
“I think we've got to look at corporate law. Back in the day when I studied it, there were different constituencies that were to be served, and I think there was a real wrong turn about 20 to 25 years ago when the theory began to be promoted that your highest duty - in fact, some would argue, your only duty - is to maximize shareholder return. I just don't buy it. And it wasn't the original underpinnings of the legal theory of corporate law.” ThinkingYearsLooksDifferentRealFactsLawTurnsDutyTheoryReturnHighestYears AgoOriginalsArguingCorporateShareholdersBack In The DayWrong Turn Author:Hillary Clinton
“Many scientists would argue that we are now in what is called Extinction, and it's caused by this perfect extinction storm: climate change, habitat loss, pollution, unsustainable exploitation of species and habitat resources, and of course, human population explosion. All of these factors work together and conspire to drive a species to extinction on our planet, every half an hour.” HumansTogetherCoursesHoursLossPerfectHalfPlanetsResourcesScientistClimateSpeciesClimate ChangePopulationStormArguingFactorsWorking TogetherPollutionExploitationExtinctionOur PlanetExplosionsHabitatHuman PopulationPopulation Explosion Author:Jeff Corwin
“I've put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that's the only way of insuring one's immortality.” WayWritingCenturyBusyArguingImmortalityProfessorsPuzzlesEnigmaBusy Life Book:Ulysses Source: Ulysses
“There's a bunch of songs that I call B-sides on the record that you could argue could maybe have some potential commercial success with another artist, but for me, they just felt really whack.” ArtistSongFeltSidesRecordsArguingBunch Author:Aaron Bruno
“So there are all kinds of things that grammarian purists would argue are awkward forms of speech and sometimes they are intentional for rhetorical effect and sometimes it's the way people chose to write at the time. Inerrancy isn't interested in any of those kinds of things.” PeopleWayWritingKindSometimesFormEffectsSpeechArguingAll KindsAwkwardRhetorical Author:D. A. Carson
“To sit with George [Clooney] and argue about what we're passionate about was amazing. We're good at arguing our points of view and are all about doing what was best for the movie [ "Gravity"].” ViewsPassionatePoint Of ViewArguingGravity Author:Sandra Bullock
“[ John F.Kennedy's friend] Chuck Spalding at the wedding said Jack was two guys: the groom and somebody else observing from a distance. ... It must have been maddening to be married to a guy like that, but you could at the same time argue that characteristic kept the world from being blown up.” WorldHas BeensSaidTwoGuyMarriedDistanceArguingCharacteristicsObservingBeing MarriedChuckTwo Guys Author:Chris Matthews
“I grew up in that minority. I grew up in the South, in Roswell, Georgia, and it was heavily white, Baptist, conservative. And the idea that somebody would come there and say those things that I said created an atmosphere where some people would walk out, and suddenly they weren't in the minority. For an hour and a half, they were the majority. So I would argue that it does need to be said.” PeopleNeedsDoeSaidIdeasHoursWhiteWalksHalfGrewGrew UpMajoritySouthConservativeArguingAtmosphereMinoritiesGeorgiaBaptists Author:David Cross