tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764506766343254616.post4157978280472662086..comments2024-03-26T14:20:38.103-04:00Comments on The Thought Criminal: Another Busy Day So, Letters from Einstein and Weyl Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4764506766343254616.post-67947728888766075132013-05-14T11:14:50.176-04:002013-05-14T11:14:50.176-04:00Likewise, in the domain of knowledge: if, for exam...Likewise, in the domain of knowledge: if, for example, I judge “2+2 is 4,” then I believe that this judgment does not come purely from natural causality in my brain making it so, but instead because the factually existing circumstance 2+2=4—thus something not part of the things and forces of reality—has influence on my judgment.<br /><br />Not exactly apropos to this quote, but the reference to the simple equation prompts my reply:<br /><br />I like to teach my students about the limits of logic; so that reasoning logically is good, but assuming logic determines truth is false. Thus the old syllogism "All humans are mortal, Socrates is human, therefor Socrates is mortal," is true, if and only if we affirm that Socrates is actually alive and human. If he isn't, then this is only an exercise in reasoning, not in reality. It is true, but it ain't necessarily truth.<br /><br />Logic won't, in other words, verify the statements used in it; it will only verify functions using those statements.<br /><br />What of the equation, then? I go on to point out that 1+1=2. True, they all agree. Except, I say, in biology, where 1+1=at least 3, if not many multiples beyond that. A simple truth without which there would be no living organisms whatsoever to ponder the question of what 1+1 equals.<br /><br /><br />Context is all. And yes, it is far more interesting to engage the context with Einstein or Weyl, than even with Hawking (I'm not that familiar with his works, but I haven't seen anything that shows he has more than a Sunday School teacher's understanding of religion, or a high school student's grasp of philosophy. I would happily be proven wrong.)Rmjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06811456254443706479noreply@blogger.com