Re: Dodgy French Food [was -New prefixes for binary multiples; kibi, mebi, gibi etc]

Elliott Roper <nospam@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> > Except this isn't a paradox, or even a problem, it's an analysis of
> > something which reveals a distinction, or rather, a series of
> > interesting and important distinctions which shed light on several other
> > different matters.
>
> You are the one who said it was a problem. You said it was a
> pholosophical problem even. Three paragraphs up. You philosophers are
> slippery buggers!

Well, the matter of primary and secondary qualities is a philosophical
question, and a problem because it's in dispute. It's not in itself a
problem in the sense of "oh dear, what are we going to do about this?".

> > About 13 years ago when I was teaching at the University of Kent I was
> > leading a class of first-year undergraduates through a discussion of
> > Descartes and what he had to say about sense and reason.
> >
> > "This Descartes," he said.
> >
> > "Yes Rob?" I replied.
> >
> > "It's just bollocks, innit?"
>
> Aren't you lucky you never had me in your class?

Not as lucky as you would have been to have me for a tutor.

> > What do you mean by "the world"? If you mean it's unhelpful for
> > understanding how aircraft fly and photosynthesis occurs or why people
> > suffer mental illness then you're right, it's perfectly useless. But
> > then I'd expect people who want to study aerodynamics, plant biology and
> > psychology to be interested in different questions anyway.

> Exactly. Is there any other sort of world? and no, they are still
> interesting questions. How else do you calibrate your intruments?

Philosophy doesn't have to be interested in the world (though I think it
can and should be). But in any case it's not interested in the world in
the same way that physics is. If your objection is: but it's not
physics, then the answer is: well, that's true.

Daniele
--
Apple Juice www.apple-juice.co.uk
Chapter Arts Centre
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Cardiff CF5 1QE
.

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