Page 128 of 138

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:10 pm
by artisticsolution
marjoramblues wrote:
and MB whispers to Chaz - so, where is your naughty bit ?
THAT difficult to find eh? I suspected as much...lol.

But I kid Chaz....where do you think this puts me on his reprimand list? Defcon 5? :twisted:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=defcon-5

(actually...that comment was also self deprecating...on purpose...for the soul reason of fun... :twisted: )

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth...

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:11 pm
by chaz wyman
marjoramblues wrote:
chaz wyman wrote:
marjoramblues wrote:
Oh Lordy - 'calm and considered' - heaven help us all...OK, some of the time but...
No, I like the fun and games, and characters - just voicing my frustration at... well, I've already said...ad nauseam.
Thanks, Chaz, I've already followed that link - and - Oh Dear, not for me - all dem rules and grammy correctness... :roll:
I know what you mean - I've already been reprimanded for a minor bit of sarcasm. I'm on warning "level1" whatever that is.
:lol:

That cannot be true !

and this is the point where under MY TRUTH, the Mod would enter, stage left - to hisses and boo's, bellowing:

'You two get a room - if you wanna gossip about other forums take it to the mattresses...' :twisted:

and MB whispers to Chaz - so, where is your naughty bit ?
Here is my crime ...


I guess that you are of limited cognitive ability from the evidence.



And I thought I was making an epistemological point.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth...

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:39 pm
by AMod
chaz wyman,

"I know what you mean - I've already been reprimanded for a minor bit of sarcasm. I'm on warning "level1" whatever that is."

Pardon?

Who issued such a thing?

AMod.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:42 pm
by lancek4
Thanks AUK for that Kant. So are you saying that SOB does not understand the distinction and vacillates from one to the other to make his point? And he doesn't see his inconsistency?

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth...

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:29 am
by chaz wyman
AMod wrote:chaz wyman,

"I know what you mean - I've already been reprimanded for a minor bit of sarcasm. I'm on warning "level1" whatever that is."

Pardon?

Who issued such a thing?

AMod.
I was talking about your evil-twin, another site. Similar but different as from a parallel universe.

http://onlinephilosophyclub.com/forums/

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 12:32 am
by chaz wyman
lancek4 wrote:Thanks AUK for that Kant. So are you saying that SOB does not understand the distinction and vacillates from one to the other to make his point? And he doesn't see his inconsistency?
I thought we all knew he did that.

Trouble is that he thinks everything he says is apriori, and therefore the absolute truth, when apriori in effect contains no information about the outside universe but is all self referring and tautological. - Only as true as its own definitions.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:19 am
by Ginkgo
artisticsolution wrote:
Ginkgo wrote:
I think the problem of existence is not really an issue in when dealing with the Kantian distinction. It is of course important, but it is more of a case of looking at the structure of the propositions in order to determine their truth value. For Kant a priori judgements consist of propositions whose truth can not be determined by reference to any experience but solely on the basis of the terms used in the sentence. For example, 'All green apples are green'. In other to determine the truth value we need only to look at the sentence. Other types of statements that Kant thought were a priori were,"All triangles have three sides" and " 5+2=7". The important point when it comes to a priori judgements is that when we try and negate them this invariably will lead to a contradiction. To claim that all green apples are not actually green is a contradiction. The same argument apples to triangles. To try and deny that a triangle has three sides makes no sense.

A posteriori judgements on the other hand are based on experience and don't involve contradictions. For example, "All living things reproduce", while being true, it is logically consistent to deny the truth of the statement. In other words, if I were to say, "All living things don't reproduce", this wouldn't create a problem in terms of logic. Unlike a priori statements, this makes perfect sense. This doesn't mean it is correct, it just means that it is not contradictory to say so.

Basically we can say that Kant was not happy with this classification. So he came up with the synthetic a priori propositions. He though that judgements could be proven true via their meanings through certain truths about the world. For example, "All bodies are extended". Kant believed that this statement, as the name suggests was both apriori and a posteriori at the same time. Basically we can say he just calls it synthetic apriori. The important point is that is based on experience. The other important point is that we cannot deny the truth of the statement. To do so would lead to some sort of contradiction.
Hi Ginkgo,

I have a hard time with generalizations, i.e. starting points that are black or white or axioms. It just seems to me that this is what is stopping us from seeing 'truth'. Axioms to me are like starting from an agreed to beginning and then only going forward from there when it is obvious that one can not only go forward but backwards, diagonally, or jump out of the line all together and go any which way.

Now take for example your statement about triangles. Yes, there is a definition to the word triangle that we all have agreed upon. But I don't think we can say that saying a triangle has more than three sides is a contradiction if there is no way to prove there is even such a thing as a perfect triangle in the first place.

I remember watching this program on fractals...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractal

...and they were showing how intricate shapes become when broken down into larger images and/or repeated. And I thought to myself, this idea we have of 'truth' may be based in our inability to step outside of aesthetics in order to imagine a different viewpoint than we feel comfortable with.

For example, if we use fractals to look at the point(s) where the lines in a triangle meet that we have magnified, we may see where the angles meet are not an exact angle, but rather a very small line or a series lines which make an acute bend but not actually an angle. If this were the case then we would be fallible to say there was such a thing as a triangle in the first place! This is even more apparent when we consider there may be no such thing as true 'flat' as that anything that has substance or that can be seen and touched (such as a dimensional triangle...as opposed to the abstract thought of a triangle) would at least have some depth and 3D quality to it.

So literally speaking, there could not be a 'true' triangle. There could only be an image our senses want us to 'believe' a true triangle should be. Similar to the way we want to believe in Santa Claus, God, etc. the only difference being is that believing in a triangle is more socially acceptable. Personally, I believe this amounts to aesthetic appeal, as I don't believe any of us have ever 'seen' a real triangle by definition. What we have seen is what we want to believe.

It just seems like "contradicting" ourselves is only possible because we are are adamant language = truth and words must mean something in the strictest sense. Like since man has deemed it so...words must have 'truth'. This would be more of a contradiction, I would think...as what makes us so sure the definition to any word is ultimate 'truth.' It may be that the essence of language stops us from seeing truth....or at least our stanch ideals of the aesthetics of such language meaning some sort of unwavering 'truth.'

Why should we convince ourselves definitions like "a triangle has three sides" must be strictly adhered to or else we commit the 'sin' of contradiction?

I don't think that words would necessarily become meaningless if we venture into more specific definitions. As we could still use the word's definition as a generalization, while also knowing that a triangle has much more than just 'three sides' and not contradict ourselves on a deeper level. I think Fractals may prove this.

I just don't see the problem with being honest about a thing...it's not like the world will cave in if we are. There will still be the idea of a triangle.
Hello Asolution,

Bertrand Russell had a similar problem with axioms. The mathematician Friedrich Frege was busy establishing what he saw as a new standard of certainty in mathematics. A certainty that was free of contradiction. Unfortunately Russell was about to deliver the bad news via his work in logic and mathematics. Russell found the axioms themselves are the problem. There is an inherent inconsistency when working with axioms. It was believed by Frege and others that self evident truth found in mathematics were enough to define the rest of mathematics. As we have been discussing, apriori truths are examples of self evident truths.

The problem arises when we try to establish the truth or falsity of s statement. The problem of axioms pulling themselves up by their own boot straps becomes evident in the statement 'I am a liar'. This problem goes back to Ancient Greece.

"A paradox arises when we try and determine whether this statement is true or false. First let us see what happens if we assume that the statement is true. A true statement implies that Epimenides is a liar, but we initially assumed he made a true statement and therefore Epimenides is not a liar-we have a inconsistency. On the other hand let us assume the statement is false. A false statement implies that Epimenides is not a liar, but we initially assumed that he made a false statement and therefore Epimenides is a liar- we have another inconsistency."

When we assume that a statement is true or false we will end up with this consistency. A priori statements have the same problem we start off with a belief about the truth or falsity of our claims. In the end we are forced to claim out statements are neither true or false. Just that they are consistent within themselves. We cannot make a leap across into the empirical world and claim that we have discovered something called absolute truth in this world.

This was pretty much the point Hume was making when he went on his book burning crusade and declared war on metaphysics. Hume established a brick wall between metaphysics and empirical science. If you are doing metaphysics then you are not doing empirical science. If you are doing empirical science then you are not doing metaphysics. This is not quite right because Hume believed there was no brick wall. Metaphysics to him was a myth. If we accept metaphysics (as some people do) then then the brick wall analogy is a good one. You must be doing one or the other and never the twain shall meet.

Well, up until Fractals and String Theory. But that's another story.


Cont. below.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:13 am
by lancek4
chaz wyman wrote:
lancek4 wrote:Thanks AUK for that Kant. So are you saying that SOB does not understand the distinction and vacillates from one to the other to make his point? And he doesn't see his inconsistency?
I thought we all knew he did that.

Trouble is that he thinks everything he says is apriori, and therefore the absolute truth, when apriori in effect contains no information about the outside universe but is all self referring and tautological. - Only as true as its own definitions.
But I liked AUKs explanation :). - and I was not sure if that was his/her ( dammit. What pronoun do I use for auk now. Shit! ) point. I have often been asking sob to draw these together of his different tactics. Into a comprehensive scheme, and I could not describe his motions adequately enough to get him to see his motion. And I suppose that is why he cannot bring them together - because he cannot identify the problem he rests in.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 6:25 am
by Ginkgo
As you say, there may well be a 'true triangle'. If there is we can only establish its truth by doing metaphysics. Once we have established our metaphysical truth in relation to triangles we then attempt to show how this truth about triangles applies to the real world. As Hume would say, this is when we run into big trouble. My above post also points out the difficulties.

Another problem is we cannot seem to overcome the problems inherent in language and mathematics. Kant was very much aware of this problem. He wanted to try and discover of there is any metaphysical knowledge that is necessary and universal that was neither mathematical nor empirical. His success or other wise is subject to volumes of debate. Whatever we do we cannot shake off the bonds of language when it comes to understanding. Kant himself acknowledges this in a indirect way. Kant would assert that knowledge of propositions and hence truth value can be found only by considering the definitions of the terms involved.

A good example of this would be when we consider a priori propositions. The truth or falsity of the claim, "All green apples are green" is based on the relation of the subject to its to predicate. It is a logical relationship as we look at it; so to speak.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 1:13 pm
by Ginkgo
lancek4 wrote:
chaz wyman wrote:
lancek4 wrote:Thanks AUK for that Kant. So are you saying that SOB does not understand the distinction and vacillates from one to the other to make his point? And he doesn't see his inconsistency?
I thought we all knew he did that.

Trouble is that he thinks everything he says is apriori, and therefore the absolute truth, when apriori in effect contains no information about the outside universe but is all self referring and tautological. - Only as true as its own definitions.
But I liked AUKs explanation :). - and I was not sure if that was his/her ( dammit. What pronoun do I use for auk now. Shit! ) point. I have often been asking sob to draw these together of his different tactics. Into a comprehensive scheme, and I could not describe his motions adequately enough to get him to see his motion. And I suppose that is why he cannot bring them together - because he cannot identify the problem he rests in.
Hi Lancek,

Actually, I think this was my explanation.

I guess that is one way of putting it. SOB's metaphysical enterprise was doomed to failure.

He won't be the first and he won't be the last.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 5:28 pm
by MJA
Truth is much more simple than thought.
One may not be able to ""shake off the bonds of language" when it comes to describing the truth, but One can simplify it: Truth is.
The solution to everything is this Way.

=

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:18 pm
by Arising_uk
lancek4 wrote:Thanks AUK for that Kant. ...
The Kant was not me lance, Ginkgo I think.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:11 pm
by chaz wyman
MJA wrote:Truth is much more simple than thought.

Chalk and Cheese


One may not be able to ""shake off the bonds of language" when it comes to describing the truth, but One can simplify it: Truth is.

Bullshit is.


The solution to everything is this Way.

It seems you like to contemplate your own navel.

=

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:09 am
by lancek4
Arising_uk wrote:
lancek4 wrote:Thanks AUK for that Kant. ...
The Kant was not me lance, Ginkgo I think.
Well thank you ginkgo then. But I'm kinda bummed it wasn't you auk. So then what was your point auk?



And - as Witt. We are dealing with facts , not things. I do not think the fractals shake the triangle thing, for fractals are just another way of talking about a thing. It does not negate that a triangle has three sides. It is the confusion of thinking the facts and things have something to do with each other that we can know - a thing is just a merry go round of facts that lure one into a presumption that we are getting somewhere more toward the true object.

Sure maybe we can take one of the sides of a triangle and look very very closely at it and then see that what we thought was a straight line (a side) is really an infinity of changing fractally angles and pretty designs, but it says nothing of what is 'more true', it says only that now our knowledge includes an apparent category that functions to grant us a conception of 'more knowledge'.

Because a way to use sunlight directly for energy has been found does not negate that we can light a log on fire for heat. The idea that one may be better or worse is entirely contextualuzed in a priori state of affairs.

Re: What's stopping us from seeing the truth?

Posted: Fri Jun 29, 2012 2:19 am
by lancek4
It is a fallacy of knowledge that somehow we can come up with a true metaphysics, as if our investigations into reality will yield a true triangle. Truth is merely a stabilizer if what we have to work with while we exist and live. It is only 'the truth' in so far as it justifies what I or we do against what you or they do.
I'm sorry fractals are just an acid trip for those who don't want to spend 12 hours to trip, so we can think 'hey the universe is really a mesh of uncertainty and go on our merry way enforcing what we think is 'really' true as opposed to those ignorant people who hold to absolute truths - as if a fractal is not another example of an 'actual' truth that reflects what is 'really' true of the universe.