Re: Objects and Relations

On Feb 7, 9:37 pm, Bob Badour <bbad..._at_pei.sympatico.ca> wrote:
> I have no doubt you found it interesting because you have been talking
> to yourself, Jim.

Indeed. I am also guilty of particpating in the sort of sloppy debate that this thread has seen, to help organize my own thoughts ready for when I need to express them formally - I often don't find it as easy as many to get ideas and instincts directly into written word straight off the bat. I think this may be due to too many years with my head buried in c++ code.

Well, its either that or the fact I live within a stone's throw of a pub with a range of over a hundred scotch and irish whiskeys.

>
> Try this experiment: Open a dictionary to a random word and write it
> down. Open the dictionary to a completely different random word and
> consider the ways the two words are related.
>
> Your mind will find a connection because it is wired to do so. When
> David posts nonsense, your mind refuses to accept that it has no sense
> and forces some sensible meaning onto it. But that meaning comes from
> your own mind.
>
> It takes discipline to stick to the meaning of what is actually written.
> I also highly recommend Gilovich's _How We Know What Isn't So_.

There is sadly a lot of truth in this.

>
> >>I note as well that Godel's theorems should not be interpreted as
> >>favoring formalism over realism. On the contrary I see it as
> >>revealing a limitation of formalism. In fact Godel himself was a
> >>Platonist.
>
> > You have invoked Godel's law. This is the cdt equivalent of Godwin's
> > Law which states that as a usenet thread approaches infinity, the
> > chance of that thread mentioning Hitler becomes 1 (i.e. a certainty).
>
> And you have given him the Godwin.
>
> > It's generally agreed upon that when this happens, the thread is over,
> > and the person mentioning Nazis losing the discussion.
>
> > Here it seems to be Godel ;)
>
> Hey, that's unfair. I generally mention Goedel up front whenever I
> mention formalism just to acknowledge the limits of any formalism.
>
> [remaining nonsense snipped]

Aye, but Godwins law only applies when the thread isn't actually about national socialism! I'm not sure david's "Godel was a platonist" was en-tirely covered by that analogy. Received on Fri Feb 09 2007 - 16:13:27 CET