"... but nature seems uncooperative ... For a discussion of the apparent impossibility of time machines in general relativity, see "Singularities and Causality Violation," by Frank J. Tipler in Annals of Physics, Vol. 108, pp. 1-36, 1977. Tipler is open-minded; in 1974 he had argued
the other side of the case."
--Eric Drexler, Engines of Creation
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Sunday, April 16, 2006
The Chaos in Order's Experience
The earliest records of humanity are very incomplete. The evolution of ideas was spasmodic. There was no steady progress. Ideas arose as situations demanded them. Only later reflection began to weave them into intricate systems of ideas.
It's the same today, since most minds do not build, much less seek, complete structures. Moreover, the life of the mind is episodic, uneven, unsystematic, and unpredictable.
Adapted from Albert Avey, Handbook in the History of Philosophy.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Self-Referential Analysis
A self-referentially inconsistent statement undercuts itself. It denies or cannot explain something that's required for that statement itself to make sense and be true.
Also, a self-referentially inconsistent statement itself in its own subject matter. Hence, it refers to itself. But a self-referentially inconsistent statement can't explain or justify itself, just as universal skepticism puts itself into the same doubt in which it puts other kinds of knowledge.
In a similar way, anyone who says that something can both be and not be thereby shows the impossibility of their own view.
They cannot say anything, because on their own view words can have no significance.
Moroever, assuming that the same thing can both be and not be, the contradictory of that assumption can be used with equal propriety.
Thus, whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A.
“Whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A” implies that words have no definite meanings, or even the minimum condition for definite meaning.
In asserting that ‘whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A’, one must say something with a meaning that is not completely indeterminate.
In asserting that ‘whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A’, one makes use of what one explicitly denies.
To assert that ‘whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A’, is to listen to reason while one disowns it.
Also, a self-referentially inconsistent statement itself in its own subject matter. Hence, it refers to itself. But a self-referentially inconsistent statement can't explain or justify itself, just as universal skepticism puts itself into the same doubt in which it puts other kinds of knowledge.
In a similar way, anyone who says that something can both be and not be thereby shows the impossibility of their own view.
They cannot say anything, because on their own view words can have no significance.
Moroever, assuming that the same thing can both be and not be, the contradictory of that assumption can be used with equal propriety.
Thus, whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A.
“Whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A” implies that words have no definite meanings, or even the minimum condition for definite meaning.
In asserting that ‘whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A’, one must say something with a meaning that is not completely indeterminate.
In asserting that ‘whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A’, one makes use of what one explicitly denies.
To assert that ‘whatever might be designated as A can be designated as non-A’, is to listen to reason while one disowns it.
Through Difficulties To Honor
One of the greatest truths is that life is difficult.
But to know that life is difficult is to thereby transcend its difficulty.
Once we accept the fact that life is difficult, its difficulty doesn't matter any more.
There's no reason to believe that life should be easy.
Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them?
Summary of M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
But to know that life is difficult is to thereby transcend its difficulty.
Once we accept the fact that life is difficult, its difficulty doesn't matter any more.
There's no reason to believe that life should be easy.
Life is a series of problems. Do we want to moan about them or solve them?
Summary of M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
Two Of Us
"I would also like to thank many of my teachers and collegues. Principal among them is my wife, Lily.
She has been so giving that it is hardly possible to distinguish her wisdom as a spouse, parent, psychotherapist, and person from my own."
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
She has been so giving that it is hardly possible to distinguish her wisdom as a spouse, parent, psychotherapist, and person from my own."
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
Sig's Illusion
"I do not believe there are any single easy answers. I believe that brief forms of psychotherapy may be helpful and are not to be decried, but the help they provide is inevitably superficial."
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
SpiritMind
"I make no distinction between the mind and the spirit, and therefore no distinction between the process of achieving spiritual growth and achieving mental growth. They are one and the same."
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled
M. Scott Peck, The Road Less Traveled