RE: Clarification of Terms (was RE: What We Can Know About the World)

From: Lee Corbin <lcorbin.domain.name.hidden>
Date: Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:09:46 -0700

Russell writes

> John M. wrote
>
> > I believe if we are up to identifying concepts with
> > common sense content as well, we should not restrict
> > ourselves into the model-distinctions of (any) physics
> > but generalize the meanings beyond such restrictions.

I agree: that is, so long as we can smoothly extend the
concepts from daily life without conflict with other areas
of knowledge.

> > To Russell's 4 coordinates of (any?) event: how come
> > the occurrence (event!) of a 'good idea' in my mind -
> > (mind: not a thing, not a place, not time-restricted)
> > should have t,x,y,z coordinates?
>
> I would say that the event occurs in your brain (the neural correlate
> of whatever is going on in your mind). Whatever is going on in your
> mind is something else - an "observation" perhaps.

Interesting note about "mind": there is no German language
equivalent for it. Another reason to be *very* careful when
employing it. <Sarcastic comment about the possibility of
Teutonic zombies elided.>

In a very deep (but non-mathematical) book, "What is Thought?"
by Eric Baum, the author decides to use "mind" as the name of
the program the brain runs, and it seems to work out well.

Lee
Received on Sun Jul 31 2005 - 23:09:14 PDT