Re: Question for religious parents

dragonlady wrote:
In article <1141455604.381336.273340@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
"cjorp@xxxxxxxxx" <cjorp@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

dragonlady wrote:

The point is, if the quantum phsyicists are right, by logical extension,
the cat MUST be simultaneously dead and alive.

Even to me, this conversation is clearly pointless to continue. You
either didn't read those quotes, didn't understand them, didn't think
people with the day job of thinking about the logical consequences of
quantum theory had anything meaningful to say about the logical
consequences of quantum theory, or were in a really big hurry to tell
me that I was wrong.

Or you didn't read what I actually wrote. Yes, I know the cat isn't
both dead and alive -- what Schrodinger was doing with his thought
experiment was taking what, *according to him at the time* was the
logical extension of what the quantum physicists were saying. I'm just
saying it's an interesting thing to contemplate. Sort of like a zen
koan.

What you actually wrote was. "by logical extension, the cat MUST be
simultaneously dead and alive." But that is not true. By logical
extension, since it looks like a contradiction is entailed, something
went wrong.

They knew it was wrong *because* it appeared to generate a
contradiction. Like I said earlier, they didn't say, "Oh, look how zen
we're being!" They said, "Boy, something's wrong here."

If that's what zen koans are like, they aren't really contradictions,
and believing both sides won't get you any truth.

I'll take Socrates as an authority over Fowler; thanks.

Depends -- on what topic?

On non-contradiction. Frankly, I think you're trying to make an
argument from authority, as you keep saying "Read Fowler" rather than
making an argument about why believing a contradiction would be a
useful way of thinking critically. I've been trying to explain my
position without resorting to any authorities to back me up. Either
the argument stands on its own, or it doesn't.

I did cite two quantum theorists who disagree with the claim that the
cat is both alive and dead, since you said you were interested and
well-read on the topic of how quantum mechanics might relate to
religious belief.

In spite of what you obviously think of me, I would undoubtedly do quite
well in your class. I'm quite capable of doing the sort of work you
value.

It'd be nice to see that, rather than just have you insist it's true.

Anyway.

--
C, mama to three year old nursling

.

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