From: docdwarf@clark.net ()
Subject: Re: Philosophers
Date: 1998/02/06
Date: 1998-02-06T00:00:00+00:00 [thread overview]
Message-ID: <6bfntm$k7j@clarknet.clark.net> (raw)
In-Reply-To: 6bfgkl$qn1$1@bvbsd2.kc.bv.com
In article <6bfgkl$qn1$1@bvbsd2.kc.bv.com>, dogmat <macdonaldrj@bv.com> wrote:
>ocdwarf@clark.net wrote in message <6bfbg6$r68@clarknet.clark.net>...
>>>The scientific method does not provide truth.
>>
>>Then permit me to ask... what *is* truth?
>
>You are permitted to ask. Just don't expect a completely satisfactory answer
>that doesn't lead to other questions.
Blessed is he who expects nothing, he will rarely be disappointed.
>The best thing I've read on the
>subject is "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert Pirsig. He
>tackles the question: "Is truth relative or absolute?" Basically, he rejects
>the question and defines "quality" instead. Quality is absolute, and truth
>is a relative view of quality. Now what is quality? Still a tough question
>(and a great book to deal with it), but at least the relative/absolute
>problem has gone away.
Hmmmm... this, obviously, is confusing. Pirsig 'rejects' the question of
truth... does that mean he rejects truth, the question or his ability to
deal with the question? As for substituting 'quality' for 'truth' (or not
substituting but making 'truth' a subset of 'quality')... bah. Call it
camembert, call it cheddar... the question remains, what is cheese?
>
>>
>>>All it can provide are negatives,
>>>i.e., one hypothesis or theory is definitely not true, while another
>simply cannot be proven false.
>>
>>Oh, *come* now... the scientific method provides a bit more than that, I
>>believe. Simple example: given a quantity of hydrochloric acid of a known
>>concentration and a quantity of sodium hydroxide of a known concentration
>>the scientific method has generated the formula which will tell you how
>>much water, salt and heat has been produced *every other time* the same
>>quantites have been combined, give or take a little (margin of error).
>>This may not be 'truth', granted.. but are you willing to bet a week's pay
>>that were we to do it the result would be otherwise?
>
>Point taken, however there still is no theory which proves the truth of
>this.
Unless you are positing that truth must be proven by theory then I fail to
see the relevance of this observation... it also opens up the nasty can of
worms of 'what constitutes a proof?'
>All we have is a simplified model of atoms and reactions which happens
>to match our experience "well enough to date".
And this is not 'truth' because... ?
>Naturally, I would not bet my paycheck against the theory.
Damnation... and I was hoping to eat at Sizzler's tonight on your nickel,
too!
>Its just that theory isn't "truth", whatever
>that is.
Ding ding ding... I *must* call you on this; if you cannot say what
'truth' is then I have to ask how you determine what it is not... can't
have one without the other, last I looked.
>And just because the theory works well enough, doesn't mean that
>tomorrow a better theory will not come along that models the data better,
>explains the physics better, and proves the old theory wrong.
When tomorrow comes one deals with tomorrow... as for today, Be Here Now
(and bet a paycheck or two while you're at it).
>
>OTOH, I have argued your point very strongly against the oxymoronic
>"Scientific Creationists". Yes, evolution is "just a theory". But it is a
>theory that is also fact.
Ummmm.... I would question this 'theory which is also a fact' thingie.
Yes, we can notice the change in finch-beaks or moth-spots over a few
generations on the Galapagos or in London... but to extrapolate that from
amoeba to orangutan is a wee bit of a leap (and a few Geological Ages
longer, too)
>So it depends whether or not we want to argue
>practical stuff and move on, or play semantics.
One does not rule out the other, I believe, as I attempted to demonstrate
with an acid, a base, some water, salt and heat.
>
>>>But you can bet that any theory will eventually
>>>be proven "wrong", and all are incomplete.
>>
>>... including *that* one? Goedel cuts both ways!
>
>Which one are you referring to by *that*?
The 'that' is 'any theory will eventually be proven 'wrong', and all are
incomplete'... what happens when *that* theory is proven wrong/incomplete?
Similarly: 'No generalisation is worth a damn, including this one' or
'Never believe anything you read on the UseNet, including this statement'
or the old chestnut 'I speak nothing but lies and I am lieing right now'.
... or, to refer back to Persig, 'All things are relative... and I can say
this *absolutely*!'
DD
next prev parent reply other threads:[~1998-02-06 0:00 UTC|newest]
Thread overview: 245+ messages / expand[flat|nested] mbox.gz Atom feed top
[not found] <199712121931.LAA25389@sirius.infonex.com>
1997-12-12 0:00 ` Which language pays most 17457 -- C++ vs. Java? Roedy Green
1997-12-17 0:00 ` Wes Groleau
1997-12-16 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-18 0:00 ` Alicia Carla Longstreet
1997-12-17 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Larry Elmore
1997-12-19 0:00 ` James Giles
[not found] ` <01bd0c0b$53cc1860$26db45cf@juddesk>
1997-12-17 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-18 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-17 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-17 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-22 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-21 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-28 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-18 0:00 ` James Giles
1997-12-17 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-19 0:00 ` James Giles
1997-12-18 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-19 0:00 ` James Giles
1997-12-18 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-19 0:00 ` James Giles
1997-12-22 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-21 0:00 ` James Giles
1997-12-21 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Chris Gray
1997-12-28 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-28 0:00 ` John Winters
1997-12-30 0:00 ` paulr
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Which language pays most " arnie sherman
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Dann Corbit
1997-12-31 0:00 ` John Slaman
[not found] ` <01bd198f$4050d960$68c8b5cc@dhite.unicomp.net>
1998-01-06 0:00 ` Jedi
1998-01-10 0:00 ` Highlander Consulting
1998-01-11 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-11 0:00 ` Barrabazz
1998-01-11 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-12 0:00 ` Ron Peterson
1998-01-14 0:00 ` anonymous
1998-01-19 0:00 ` Joe Gwinn
[not found] ` <01bd2526$66b70fa0$d6d945cf@juddesk>
1998-01-23 0:00 ` dnns
1998-01-23 0:00 ` Philosophers Nick Roberts
1998-01-23 0:00 ` Spam--> was:Re: Philosophers Dann Corbit
1998-01-24 0:00 ` Nick Roberts
1998-01-26 0:00 ` Doug Miller
1998-01-24 0:00 ` Philosophers John G.
[not found] ` <Pine.LNX.3.95. <34cd2808.10685219@newsroom.tassie.net.au>
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Philosophers docdwarf
[not found] ` <01bd2c40$b62837a0$7261b693@HP5079Q>
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-01 0:00 ` Philosophers Scott Adams
[not found] ` <01bd2cc0$f0042b70$7261b693@HP5079Q>
1998-02-04 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Back to the topic of CS students. (was Re: Philosophers) cyanide
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Nick Roberts
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Philosophers jim
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Philosophers suzie
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-01-31 0:00 ` Philosophers Martin Richardson
1998-01-31 0:00 ` Philosophers Jeff York
1998-02-01 0:00 ` Philosophers Martin Richardson
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Philosophers Pat O'Connell
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Philosophers Eddie Armstrong
1998-02-03 0:00 ` Philosophers Nyk Tarr
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Philosophers Jeff York
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Philosophers Robert Garskof
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Philosophers Dave Tholen
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Philosophers Samuel Mize
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Philosophers cyanide
1998-02-09 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-18 0:00 ` Philosophers Mad Hamish
1999-07-29 0:00 ` Philosophers firewind
1998-01-24 0:00 ` Philosophers John G.
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Drifting further off topic cyanide
1998-01-25 0:00 ` Philosophers Jens Schweikhardt
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Philosophers Mad Hamish
1998-01-27 0:00 ` Philosophers Kurt Wall
1998-01-24 0:00 ` Philosophers Mike Whiten
1998-01-24 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-01-25 0:00 ` Philosophers Arnold Trembley
1998-01-25 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-01-26 0:00 ` :-) Philosophers Giovanni Drogo [drogo@rn.bastiani.it]
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Philosophers Steve Dekorte
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-01-27 0:00 ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Robert Garskof
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Steve Dekorte
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Barrabazz
1998-01-28 0:00 ` dogmat
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Tim Oxler
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Tim Oxler
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Joe Gwinn
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Wayne L. Beavers
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Frank A. Adrian
1998-02-03 0:00 ` GLE
1998-02-03 0:00 ` The Goobers
1998-02-03 0:00 ` Harold Stevens ** PLEASE SEE SIG **
1998-01-29 0:00 ` coryb
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Robert S. White
1998-01-30 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-31 0:00 ` Paul Van Bellinghen
1998-02-01 0:00 ` Nick Roberts
1998-02-09 0:00 ` cyanide
1998-02-10 0:00 ` dogmat
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Bill Lynch
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Michael Rot13 Klein
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Jeff Knaggs
1998-02-09 0:00 ` cyanide
1998-02-10 0:00 ` dogmat
1999-07-29 0:00 ` Edwin Purvee
[not found] ` <01bd2c3c$6726d520$8101b8c7@MIS-RKW95.spartan.com>
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Steve Dekorte
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Bill Lynch
1998-02-11 0:00 ` dogmat
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Joe Gwinn
1998-01-31 0:00 ` Larry Wiggins
1999-07-29 0:00 ` Ben Pfaff
1999-07-29 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-02-02 0:00 ` This thread has drifted miles from its subject line Wes Groleau
[not found] ` <6alu5l$onm$1@owl.slip <01bd2c3c$6726d520$8101b8c7@MIS-RKW95.spartan.com>
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Kaz Kylheku
1998-02-02 0:00 ` Michael C. Kasten
[not found] ` <6alu5l$ <34D6243C.2A53@gc057.fw.hac.com>
1998-02-05 0:00 ` This thread has drifted miles from its subject line Paul Osborn
[not found] ` <6alu5l$onm$1@owl.slip <34E0D798.E29D6CA0@cableol.co.uk>
1998-02-11 0:00 ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Kaz Kylheku
[not found] ` <gwinn-1901981219520001@dh5055142. <01bd284c$4b0b4fe0$c0f682c1@xhv46.dial.pipex.com>
1998-01-24 0:00 ` Philosophers Kaz Kylheku
[not found] ` <gwinn-1901981219520001@dh5055142. <34CE059C.634DE881@snet.com>
1998-01-27 0:00 ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Robert Garskof
[not found] ` <gwinn-1901981219520001@dh5055142. <34C9F3D0.6B5A@erols.com>
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Philosophers Warren B. Focke
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-05 0:00 ` Philosophers Warren B. Focke
1998-02-05 0:00 ` Philosophers The Goobers
1998-02-06 0:00 ` Philosophers dogmat
1998-02-06 0:00 ` Philosophers docdwarf
1998-02-06 0:00 ` Philosophers dogmat
1998-02-06 0:00 ` docdwarf [this message]
1998-02-06 0:00 ` Philosophers Harold Stevens ** PLEASE SEE SIG **
1998-02-10 0:00 ` Film "Contact" Nick Roberts
1998-02-09 0:00 ` Which language pays most -- C++ vs. Java? cyanide
1998-01-11 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-11 0:00 ` Carsten Arnholm
1998-01-15 0:00 ` Highlander Consulting
1998-01-16 0:00 ` Charles F Hankel
1999-08-09 0:00 ` Paul Groves
1999-08-09 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Philip Hunt
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Which language pays most 17457 " Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Billy Chambless
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Berna L Massingill
1998-01-04 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-19 0:00 ` James Giles
1997-12-18 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-23 0:00 ` Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-18 0:00 ` John Seitz
1997-12-18 0:00 ` Robert Robbins
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Mark Wilden
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Ian Upright
1997-12-19 0:00 ` William Murray
1997-12-19 0:00 ` steve
1997-12-20 0:00 ` Robert Munck
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Chip Ling
1997-12-17 0:00 ` James Giles
[not found] ` <349793cb.33600861@news.wxs.nl>
[not found] ` <34923264.75B5@netup.cl>
[not found] ` <670qio$8a$1@sparcserver.lrz-muenchen.de>
[not found] ` <3494B7DA.5463@ici.net>
[not found] ` <34958D16.190C@gsg.eds.com>
[not found] ` <679807$8gm@ws1.emirates.net.ae>
[not found] ` <e9k976.8h3.ln@localhost>
1997-12-18 0:00 ` Klaus-Georg Adams
[not found] ` <67bjnv$j35$1@brie.direct.ca>
[not found] ` <349B0417.D4DB6A30@its.cl>
1997-12-20 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-20 0:00 ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-20 0:00 ` Kurt Watzka
1997-12-20 0:00 ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-21 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-21 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-21 0:00 ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-22 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1997-12-22 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-22 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-22 0:00 ` Kurt Watzka
1997-12-28 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-24 0:00 ` John Porter
1997-12-24 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-27 0:00 ` Which language pays most? Smalltalk, not C++ nor Java Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-27 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-27 0:00 ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-27 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-29 0:00 ` John Porter
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
[not found] ` <01bd14b4$dc6f6a80$6428b4cf@carla.ici.net>
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Billy Chambless
1997-12-31 0:00 ` David Thornley
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Keith G. Murphy
1998-01-01 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1998-01-01 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Peter Seebach
1998-01-02 0:00 ` firewind
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Ian Piumarta
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Richard Kenner
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Shelly Mujtaba
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Guillermo Schwarz
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Dean Roddey
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Jacqueline U. Robertson
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Dean Roddey
1998-01-05 0:00 ` Guillermo Schwarz
1998-01-05 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Jacqueline U. Robertson
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
[not found] ` <01bd147e$11496760$6a28b4cf@carla.ici.net>
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Billy Chambless
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Jeffrey Templon
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Charles R Martin
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1998-01-28 0:00 ` SmallTalk Execute files Thaminda Erangane Perera
1998-01-28 0:00 ` Dann Corbit
1998-01-29 0:00 ` Griff Lewis
1997-12-28 0:00 ` Which language pays most? Smalltalk, not C++ nor Java Kurt Watzka
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Guillermo Schwarz
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-30 0:00 ` firewind
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Brock
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Dann Corbit
1998-01-01 0:00 ` firewind
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Joshua Waxman
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Dann Corbit
1997-12-31 0:00 ` John Porter
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Jon S Anthony
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-31 0:00 ` David Thornley
1997-12-31 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Robert Dewar
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Lawrence Kirby
1998-01-03 0:00 ` Patricia Shanahan
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Billy Chambless
1997-12-30 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1997-12-29 0:00 ` Kaz Kylheku
1998-01-02 0:00 ` Tor Iver Wilhelmsen
1997-12-25 0:00 ` Which language pays most 17457 -- C++ vs. Java? Kurt Watzka
1997-12-19 0:00 ` Quowong P Liu
1997-12-19 0:00 ` William J. Leary Jr.
1997-12-24 0:00 ` Richard D Riehle
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