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Article #316Re: Folk Theories of Meaning (was re: Theories of meaning not relying solely on sym)
From: Randall Holmes
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:46
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:46
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4061 bytes
In article <184352@pyramid.pyramid.com> pcollac@pyrnova.mis.pyramid.com (Paul Collacchi) writes: >In article <1992Nov17.134024.1624@sol.cs.wmich.edu>, >brewer@sol.cs.wmich.edu (Steve Brewer) writes: >|> In article <1992Nov16.122343.17501@husc3.harvard.edu> >|> zeleny@husc10.harvard.edu (Michael Zeleny) writes: >|> > >|> >If you don't feel that being bound by >|> >logic is a *moral* obligation, would you still have any basis for a >|> >reasonable expectation that your tooting your car's horn at a bunch of >|> >Samoan Hell's Angels does not *mean* your informed consent for them to >|> >peel off your skin and rip out your heart? Do you have a glimmer of >|> >understanding that your human rights are not worth the market value of >|> >the chemicals that comprise your anatomy, *if* there be no such things >|> >as matters of fact about meaning? >|> > >Our lives are not worth the market value of the chemicals which comprise >our anatomy. Life is snuffed out constantly, without sentiment and for >no reason. Each of us will go this way. The issue, as I see it, is not >to go about letting our stupid, little logical egos tell us how >important we are, but to *get* how absolutely unimportant we are, to the Whole, sure and in >so doing, come to cherish each breath that continues us, i.e., realize how important it is? (to ourselves?) for none are >guaranteed and our continued existence is largely beyond our control, >and mighty logic is utterly powerless to change that. The life expectancy of the beneficiaries of logic (who are not necessarily the ones who work at it) is longer. > >|> It seems to me that this statement mixes several immiscible issues. >|> Let us remember that human rights are based on a *committment* to >|> logic. We shouldn't believe that logic is fundamentally 'right' or >|> something. Most evidence I've seen indicates that very few people >|> use logic or fundamentally rational thinking for most decision-making. >|> > >Quite right. I might point out that human rights are base on a >comittment to human beings -- not to logic -- the underlying motivation >for which is quite illogical. One's commitment to oneself is quite logical, and can be extended to those who benefit one. The system of arbitration by which the >rights are adjudicated is "somewhat" reasonable. > >Reason can never tell you what is right or important, and there is no >such thing as a rational decision or rational behavior, This is a remarkable assertion. since these must >accept as a premise that a particular outcome or particular constraint >is 'good' or 'important' and this can never be 'proved.' Have you ever heard of an axiom? (This is not a reference to Randism, by the way). I am far more >prone to use 'intuition' or 'intelligence' than logic which is >frequently worthless. Please explain the exact difference between intelligence and logic = reason. > >Logic and reason are fine. No need to start deifying them. How on earth could we deify Logic? Investigation reveals that His existence is prior to ours... :-) > >Paul Collacchi -- The opinions expressed | --Sincerely, above are not the "official" | M. Randall Holmes opinions of any person | Math. Dept., Boise State Univ. or institution. | holmes@opal.idbsu.edu
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Newsgroups: sci.cognitive,sci.philosophy.tech,sci.lang,sci.philosophy.meta Path: arc1-ca.pugleaf.net!sparky!uunet!pmafire!mica.inel.gov!guinness!garnet.idbsu.edu!holmes From: holmes@garnet.idbsu.edu (Randall Holmes) Subject: Re: Folk Theories of Meaning (was re: Theories of meaning not relying solely on sym) Message-ID: <1992Nov19.224602.27606@guinness.idbsu.edu> Sender: usenet@guinness.idbsu.edu (Usenet News mail) Nntp-Posting-Host: garnet Organization: Boise State University References: <1992Nov16.122343.17501@husc3.harvard.edu> <1992Nov17.134024.1624@sol.cs.wmich.edu> <184352@pyramid.pyramid.com> Distribution: usa Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 22:46:02 GMT Lines: 92