Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

> Given we assume Kantian the framework you just outlined

Do you have an alternate theory, something like a central broadcasting station of reality and the mind is a receiver? I'm open to the idea, but it is pseudo-scientific and therefore incorrect (or so it is regularly implied and perceived, if not outright asserted as fact). [Disclosure: here (and therefore incorrect) I am making a joke.]

> The usual response to this is that if you can't possess omniscient knowledge of reality, how could you possibly make a statement about reality

a) Because absolute knowledge is not a requirement for some knowledge.

b) Statements do not have to be true (in fact, most aren't absolutely true in a JTB sense)

> Imo the way out of this: talk about things being true in the context of logic only...

How do you account for:

a) the unknown?

b) the known delusional nature of the mind?

I'm not saying that it can't be done, but I'm curious how you would go about it.

> the second causality comes into the picture the word "true" means something entirely different.

At runtime yes, but philosophy has gone through this problem with extreme diligence - using logic, epistemology, and a few other techniques, it would be pretty easy to eliminate most flawed arguments and propositions (I bet 5 rules/methods would be enough to eliminate 80%). Eliminating incorrectness or unsoundness does not mean that you will convince everyone to realign their beliefs, but that is not a requirement for arriving at maximally possible correctness....and, "unknown" is a valid and very common form of correctness, that most people are not able to reach on certain topics.

> Trying to reconcile the two is like trying to write a mathematical proof of the existence of God

A whale and a mouse are both mammals, but a whale is not equal to a mouse.

Also: arguments like this (which tend to be extremely persuasive, and often account for a non-trivial amount of arguments) could be easily eliminated with a simple rule.



> Also: arguments like this (which tend to be extremely persuasive, and often account for a non-trivial amount of arguments) could be easily eliminated with a simple rule.

I wasn't really trying to make an argument, it's more of a heuristic if anything

> How do you account for...

> a) the unknown?

just do whatever habit says to do (and don't call it the truth)

> b) the known delusional nature of the mind?

this is a fun one. give the delusional mind a pen, paper, and 20 years and maybe they'll write the next phenomenology of spirit and trigger world war III


> just do whatever habit says to do (and don't call it the truth)

On certain topics, it seems people are not able to do that, as simple as it sounds. (Not a hit at you, more of a general observation.)




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: