From: J. R. Molloy (jr@shasta.com)
Date: Thu Oct 04 2001 - 10:30:42 MDT
From: "Brian D Williams" <talon57@well.com>
> Since Heisenberg we have known that the very attempt to measure
> affects the outcome, and since a subject chooses what to measure in
> the first place, even these simple efforts of science are not
> without their subjectivity.
But you can't be sure about that, since your own viewpoint contradicts itself
by invoking subjectivity. Consequently, the uncertainty principle is itself
uncertain. In those areas of reality in which the uncertain principle is
invalid (due to its uncertainty), objectivity therefore prevails. The observer
(not the subject) decides (rather than chooses) to measure what is appropriate
to begin with. Here it is not the subjectivity of science that is at issue,
but rather the focus of the applied science. Accordingly, science need only
constrain itself to those aspects of reality which do, in fact, yield to
objective analysis via the device of experiment so that useful products ensue.
The rest is dross.
--- --- --- --- ---
Useless hypotheses, etc.:
consciousness, phlogiston, philosophy, vitalism, mind, free will, qualia,
analog computing, cultural relativism, GAC, Cyc, Eliza, cryonics, individual
uniqueness, ego, human values, scientific relinquishment
We move into a better future in proportion as science displaces superstition.
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Nov 02 2002 - 08:11:10 MST