Idiots are always in favour of inequality of income (their only chance of eminence), and the really great in favour of equality.
George Bernard ShawRead
...if there is a widely shared concept of intentional action... a philosophical analysis of intentional action that is wholly unconstrained by that concept runs the risk of having nothing more than a philosophical fiction as its subject matter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of shared concepts in the philosophical analysis of intentional actions.
Alfred Mele suggests that philosophical discussions on intentional action must be grounded in common understanding, as deviating from widely shared concepts may lead to discussions that lack substance or relevance. In other words, without a foundation in what is generally accepted and understood, philosophical analyses may end up being abstract and disconnected from reality.
Themes
Intentional ActionPhilosophyShared ConceptsAnalysisFiction
In practice
Example use cases
Citing this quote in a lecture on the significance of shared understanding in philosophical inquiry.
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