m0rl0ck
09-28-02, 06:36 PM
Nothing is true outside of its context.
You cannot for instance apply a subjective psychological truth to an empirical problem.
There are internal and external truths, example: the first datum that conciousness provides is the thought or feeling, the external corallary of that might be the firing of a neuron or series of neurons. The attempt to reduce one of these to the other doesnt do justice to either. Dismissing conciousness to the mere firing of neurons excludes a universe of human experience and treating the bio-chemical computer model of the human brain as only an idea would exclude it from being used to any medical advantage.
There are also cultural and social truths and collective and individual spheres of both the interior and exterior modes.
Heres a diagram:
http://w3.gwis.com/~m0rl0ck/truth.gif
The problem with some of the discussions here is that they start out to prove a proposition from one quadrant of the diagram above from a different quadrant entirely.For instance trying to prove non-supernatual intellegent design with physics is bound to failure. Non-supernatural intellegent design implies intention or motive force, both of which involve conciousness. Trying to prove conciousness from an empirical starting point wont work. Its like trying to deduce the favorite color of designer of the eifel tower by looking at a picture of the structure.
The above diagram was adapted from one in Ken Wilbers "Eye of Spirit"
You cannot for instance apply a subjective psychological truth to an empirical problem.
There are internal and external truths, example: the first datum that conciousness provides is the thought or feeling, the external corallary of that might be the firing of a neuron or series of neurons. The attempt to reduce one of these to the other doesnt do justice to either. Dismissing conciousness to the mere firing of neurons excludes a universe of human experience and treating the bio-chemical computer model of the human brain as only an idea would exclude it from being used to any medical advantage.
There are also cultural and social truths and collective and individual spheres of both the interior and exterior modes.
Heres a diagram:
http://w3.gwis.com/~m0rl0ck/truth.gif
The problem with some of the discussions here is that they start out to prove a proposition from one quadrant of the diagram above from a different quadrant entirely.For instance trying to prove non-supernatual intellegent design with physics is bound to failure. Non-supernatural intellegent design implies intention or motive force, both of which involve conciousness. Trying to prove conciousness from an empirical starting point wont work. Its like trying to deduce the favorite color of designer of the eifel tower by looking at a picture of the structure.
The above diagram was adapted from one in Ken Wilbers "Eye of Spirit"