Re: Machines that think...

A.E. Manier Sr. (A.E.Manier.1@ND.EDU)
Mon, 19 May 1997 10:05:41 -0500

I should never open this file without running at least five miles.

I said,

>> Philosophers and scientists get low marks for that sort of thing
>>(incoherence and begging the question).

Paul Toth Said
>
>*** They also get low marks for inhabiting a culture of pure theory and
>rationalism which almost always crumbles in the face of reality, just as
>fiction crumbles in the face of theory and rationalism.
>
>In some ways, fiction is a sort of philosophical and/or social experiment
>(even the worst of it)

I think Percy wrote the Tom More novels to show fans of the author of
Martin Arrowsmith, M.D., how it should be done. In my lingo, Percy
thought Red Lewis begged a few questions.

Paul Toth likes cake in the mouth and cake in the fridge:

(1) reality smashes theory and even though theory cuts fiction and

(2) fiction is "a sort of" experiment.

I know this is going to make Paul feel like he's having his knuckles
rapped in 4th grade, but you can't do any sort of experiment if your
premisses are coherent or logically imply your result (beg the question).

None. That's reality, Paul. Some rednecks learn that on the farm.

I know this is the era of specialization, but isn't this a little silly?

ez ed

A. Edward Manier, Professor
Philosophy & History and Philosophy of Science
Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values
314 Decio
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, IN 46556

(o) 219-631-6520
FAX 219-631-8209
Dept 219-631-6471
http://www.nd.edu/~amanier/index.html