Re: "Algorithms" in Molecular Biology?


"John Edser" <edser@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:e54rai$25d4$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

John Wilkins john@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
The failure to distinguish between the abstracta of models and
descriptions on
the one hand, and the actual causal properties of material processes on
the
other, is a deep flaw in many people's thinking.

JE:-
I entirely agree but I must add that any "ACTUAL causal properties of
material processes" (my capitalization of ACTUAL) were always and remain
today, 100% theoretical constructs. We can have no knowledge of
the-thing-in-itself or processes even if we could become that thing/process
(which we cannot do).

Amen! (I don't get much chance to do that.)

Wilkins all too often seems to suggest that models and descriptions are
second class citizens in our intellectual universe, whereas things-in-
themselves are what really counts. As Edser points out, we have no
direct experience of 'actual causal properties of material processes'.
All we have are models. And it is far from clear (to me) that simple
models are to be denigrated by comparison to more 'realistic' models.

The 'deep flaw' to which Wilkins refers should be formulated as a failure
to distinguish between second order abstractions and first order abstractions,
not a failure to distinguish between abstraction and reality.


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: "Algorithms" in Molecular Biology?
    ... and the actual causal properties of material processes ... material processes" were always and remain ... The 'deep flaw' to which Wilkins refers should be formulated as a failure ... to distinguish between second order abstractions and first order ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: "Algorithms" in Molecular Biology?
    ... and the actual causal properties of material processes on ... material processes" were always and remain ... The 'deep flaw' to which Wilkins refers should be formulated as a failure ... to distinguish between second order abstractions and first order abstractions, ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: "Algorithms" in Molecular Biology?
    ... and the actual causal properties of material processes on ... material processes" were always and remain ... to distinguish between second order abstractions and first order abstractions, ... information is primarily a property of learning systems and communication systems. ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)