[MD] Science Wars

[MarshaV]

At 02:49 PM 4/19/2009, you wrote:
> > >[Marsha]
> > >By conventional truth I mean a pattern that is relational,
> > >ever-changing and conceptually constructed.  What of a conventional
> > >truth is shared?  Are you, six letters with some kind of relationship
> > >to crime, shared?
> > >
> > >[Krimel]
> > >Conventions may have those properties but a convention is shared. The
>term
> > >has no meaning in the context of the individual. Letters are shared
> > >conventions my explanation for the etymology of my name is likewise
>shared.
> > >In short EVERYTHING about a "conventional truth" is shared. That is what
> > >makes it conventional.
> >
> >Marsha
> >Can you name one static of pattern (meaning) that is shared
> >100%?    Each particular will have its little deviation.
> >
> >[Krimel]
> >Of course not, neither in terms of 100% of people agreeing nor of two
>people
> >sharing 100% overlap in understanding. Fortunately neither of these is
> >required of a conventional understanding. The issue is really about how
>much
> >overlap (short of 100%) do we actually need to communicate and share
> >understanding. The science of information theory is all about this.
> >Communication and convention are the ability the exchange meaning and
> >messages. Or to be more precise reduction in uncertainty. Evolutionary
> >success for example, depends in reducing uncertainty and ANY reduction
> >confers selective advantage. This is as true of memes are of genes. This is
> >how we evaluate concepts and conventions. We determine how meaningful they
> >are by how well they reduce uncertainty. It is reduction not absolute
> >reduction that is critical.
>
>Marsha
>The existence of zebras is a conventional truth.  Are using the
>phrase 'conventional truth' differently?
>
>[Krimel]
>I think so unless this a trick question. I have experienced zebras and my
>individual concepts of zebrahood are different from yours but our shared
>convention with regards to zebras is a 'conventional truth' even though
>there is uncertainty as to the exact amount of overlaps in our individual
>experience.

Marsha:
No trick question.  The visual pattern of a zebra may be similar 
between the two of us, but "Is that all there is, is that all there 
is.  If that's all there is my friends, then let's keep 
dancing..."  Do you get what I'm suggesting?







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Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.........
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