From: Jason Joel Thompson (jasonjthompson@home.com)
Date: Wed Aug 30 2000 - 19:48:34 MDT
----- Original Message -----
From: "J. R. Molloy" <jr@shasta.com>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Eliezer S. Yudkowsky" <sentience@pobox.com>
> >
> > > There is only one reality.
> >
> > I think this sort of belief might be the dogma to which Al refers.
> >
>
> This is not a belief. It is a definition.
> Reality means the fact, state, or quality of being real or genuine. 2.
That
> which is real; an actual thing, situation, or event. 3. The sum or
totality of
> real things. 4. That which exists, as contrasted with what is fictitious
or
> merely conceived of.
>
> To make reality plural is simply to play with words. What shall we call
the sum
> of all "realities"? If you like, you can call it existence. There is only
one
> reality because reality means everything (and every non-thing) that
actually
> exists.
This is a fine bit of tautology, signifying nothing. If I grant your
definition of reality (as inclusive of "all things") then the term contains
no information. Eliezer's statement may as well have read: "There is only
one everything." One everything? You can't apply useful modifiers to a
such a concept.
Instead I believe that many intelligent people use the term 'reality' to
refer to something distinct-- a true state of being that is seperate from
our perception of it. This is a concept that I refer to as "worshipping
reality" and I think it contains many of the same belief elements as
organized religions. It is a belief in something of which we do not have
direct experience.
I'm just running out the door, so I can't really address this right now, but
I'm certain you'll agree there is value in making the distinction between
reality and our perception of it.
--
::jason.joel.thompson::
::founder::
www.wildghost.com
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