What, Why & How do we Know ?
Searle vs Pinker correspondence at New York ReviewGood reference list too.Debated on comp.ai.philosophyOh no I didn’t. Oh yes you did. Pity to see another binary argument. Can’t get logged on to enter the debate, however the disagreement is 80% about representation of each others thoughts, not about the actual philosophy being debated. Both agree 100% … Continue reading “Searle vs Pinker”
Less is More Counter intuitive recommendations from Netherlands experience is that fewer traffic priority rules / lane markings/ signals etc make roads and junctions safer. Kids are involved in less road accidents if they are encouraged to play in traffic. Essentially human psychology compensates by adjusting speeds and habits to enable tacit negotiatiation by eye-contact … Continue reading “Less Is More – Netherlands Traffic Signs”
Fact or Fiction ? www.melville.org Well through Moby Dick now (96/136’ths) and still finding so much on so many levels. The blood-soaked anatomical detail and unctious stench and sensation in the butchery is numbing, and you can see how early reviews met with issues of poor taste ! As I mentioned earlier – one striking … Continue reading “Moby Dick – Fact From Fiction”
Reading list re-established ! Mentioned a month ago that I was reading Melville’s Moby Dick, and finding it enthralling so far. I got distracted however, and in the meantime read John Henry’s biography of Francis Bacon – Knowledge is Power, mentioned below and have since completed and enjoyed that (review to follow), together with dipping … Continue reading “Moby Dick & Francis Bacon”
Reading Physics and Philosophy by Werner Heisenberg (c1958/p1962) Having previously read the Physical Principles of Quantum Theory, to get a first hand account of the Uncertainty Principle, found this much more readable volume of his. Pretty comprehensive summary of Philosophical views of the “reality of matter and atoms” from the Greeks to Hume and Russell. … Continue reading “Physics and Philosophy – Heisenberg”
Pirsig’s Lila – finished at last, after many interruptions. Will add a review, but may need to re-read final few chapters to absorb. Thoughts for now. The lunatics take over the asylum again. Should I be worried ? – in ZMM I identified with Phaedrus, in this, I am Lila ! The “game” of Catch22 … Continue reading “Lila – Brain Dump Notes”
William James Sidis – new thread prompted by Pirsig / Lila Sidis – the original April Fool ? William James Sidis could speak five languages and read Plato in original Greek by the age of five [ps perhaps he was Greek – more western/US/English-speaking arrogance – aside]. At eight he passed the entrance for Harvard … Continue reading “William James Sidis”
Sieving Electrons ?Classification, literally meaning fitering by pass / no-pass screening or sieving.Even Pirsig (Lila) talks about classification in a strictly (classical) binary fashion, when a thought struck me. There is surely some parallel between emergent “quantum computing” QuBits being non-binary / dualist, and the wave / particle duality experienced when “sieving” (classifying) electrons through … Continue reading “Sieving Electrons – Classification with Emergent Patterns”