[MD] Ways of Knowing

[David Harding]

On 03/07/2007, at 7:42 AM, Heather Perella wrote:

>      [Marsha]
>> This seems an example of the difference between
>> 'knowing by
>> experience' and 'knowing by abstract manipulation'.
>> Before Archemedes discovered the mathematical
>> principles of displacement, people knew through
> experience which
>> boats could float, which couldn't and which floated
> better.  After the
>> Archemedes mathematical principles were understood,
> boats could
>> be better designed for future purposes with more
> precise
>> accuracy.  What do you think?  Can this represent
> the Social
>> Level vs the Intellectual Level?
>> I don't let go very well.
>
>      People knew through experience.  Ok, thus,
> knowing via dq, which I think you and I understand.
> Now, as to people knowing through experience and if
> that knowing was social, until Archemedes discovered
> mathematical principles of displacement?  I believe
> that's your question.  Hmmm, good question!  Was there
> any abstract thought about boats before Archemedes,
> thus, when people knew by experience?  I don't even
> know if this knowing by experience is social.  People
> abstractly planned this boat, I believe.  Tradition,
> the knowledge about this boat that was passed down,
> for example, was discussed.  People thought abstractly
> about these boats, I'd say.  There wasn't a boat and
> then there was.  Now, if this boat that was being made
> was made by copying another boat that was nearby and
> the builders looked at this other boat and just made a
> new boat, I'm leaning social level.  Yet, what of this
> first boat?  With that, I'm leaning intellectual,
> something abstract was transferred from the head into
> wood or grass.  Now what of watching ducks float in
> water?  Well, that may trigger a boat, and here again,
> I'd say something abstract glimmered in this person's
> mind.  Something was present in the mind that was not
> on any other level to be found.  It wasn't inorganic,
> organic, or social.  All's that left over is
> intellectual.
>
> blue and green,
> SA


Hi Marsha and SA,

Might I direct your attention to the post entitled: What are the  
Intellectual and Social levels? Where I respond to this question of  
'knowing'.

Cheers,

David.