Re: "Friendly Premises"


Torkel Franzen <torkel@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>"Acme Diagnostics" <LFinezapthis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
>> However, I can prove these two assertions:
>>
>> PCVL has as its primary goal correct real-world reasoning.
>> ATPL has as its primary goal correct foundational mathematics.
>>
>>The proof:
>>http://thor.prohosting.com/~chrismay/usenet.gif
>
> Well, that's OK. There's no reason why everybody should take an
>interest in logic.

That wouldn't be so much of a problem. It's the theoretical
nature of mathematical "logic" that puts you and the other
Mullahs down in the onesies and twosies.

Here, let me explain, then you'll understand the proof.

Theory is devoid of context, and context is the single most
important aspect of real-world reasoning performance.

An impaired contextual reasoning ability is the main symptom
I've observed with you and the other Mullahs.

It's not that theory is unimportant in real-world reasoning.
These are not mutually exclusive. Theory exists in the real-world
just like anything else. Real-world reasoning includes theory.

But for reasoning performance, exclusive theory should not
account for more than about 10% of our studies, and the large
majority of that should be applied math where it is also
acknowledged that any use of applied math will promote "logical
thinking." When it accounts for more than 30% or even 50%,
though, it is obviously at the expense of much more consequential
contextual reasoning, and one's thinking can become "stuck in
theory cement."

This is most obvious in dialog where one participant is an
accomplished contextual reasoner and the other is heavily
invested in mathematical logic or similar abstract theory
at the expense of practice with contextual thinking.

Most noticeable in those discussions is an inability to set
language in context. The definition of a word can change
in context of a phrase, and the definition of a phrase can change
in context of a sentence. There are higher and higher contexts,
or levels of description, each of which is controlling of
meanings of their linguistic parts. Beyond sentences are
paragraphs, arguments and series of arguments. Other contexts
that are controlling of meanings are personal characteristics of
participants, history of participation, physical circumstances
and other larger contexts.

In such discussions, theorists will inevitably try to pull
smaller linguistic components out of the larger context. They
will pull a sentence out of a paragraph and analyze it as if it
were a standalone sentence. They will pull a phrase out of a
sentence and analyze it as a stand-along phrase. Such analysis
is useful if language cannot be understood in the larger context,
but this is rarely the case. When it is not, analyzing these
linguistic components by themselves out of context is a
meaningless and fruitless exercise.

Contextual reasoning is extremely difficult to program.
It is mostly case-based and takes years of redundant practice
in highly varied contexts, circumstances, and subjects including
art. In lots of situations, discussion being only one, the
contextual reasoner is telescoping and switching myriad contexts
on the fly. Those who are severely challenged in this area cannot
even comprehend such a conversation. This liability extends
fully into problem-solving and decision making in the real world
which is full of context.

See?

Larry
.

Relevant Pages

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