Re: How long are the arms of Formalisms?

John Jones wrote:
Nam Nguyen wrote:

Suppose we (1st-order) formalize the sentence:

"President Kennedy is dead"

into a mathematical property D(K). A model (i.e. interpretation) in this
case would be an abstraction from a *cartoon drawing* depicting a man
falling back in a limousine. Must that abstraction/interpretation be
associated with the actual fateful event in Dallas, in 1963? Of course
not: the cartoon drawing and all that might have been part of some
theatrical play in 1960, coincidently.


I understand that. But I say that the behaviours of the signs in the
formalism portray the familiar behaviour of physical objects,
irrespective of what we associate with them.

I have no clue what you're talking about! Consider the formula:

(1) ExAy(x+y=y)

There are 11 formal signs (symbols) seen in (1). What are the
*physical objects and behaviors* that these signs would portray?


(Just in case you don't already know: mathematical models are
abstract, *not* physically concrete! So if I were you, I'd be careful
before saying to public a bunch of non-math "stuff": e.g. "they are ...
*necessarily physical* ones"!)

"Abstract" must be left behind if it is intended to serve as a
description.

In case you're not aware of it, a description of something is always
abstract! (Good grief!)




--
-----------------------------------------------------

What we call 'I' is just a swinging door which moves
when we inhale and exhale.
Shunryu Suzuki
----------------------------------------------------
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: How long are the arms of Formalisms?
    ... *physical objects and behaviors* that these signs would portray? ... The behaviours of these signs mimic the behaviours of a physical ... There is no distinction between them. ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Re: How long are the arms of Formalisms?
    ... *physical objects and behaviors* that these signs would portray? ... The behaviours of these signs mimic the behaviours of a physical ... What are the standard behaviours of physical objects? ...
    (sci.logic)
  • Re: How long are the arms of Formalisms?
    ... *physical objects and behaviors* that these signs would portray? ... The behaviours of these signs mimic the behaviours of a physical ... deductions for example, and the balancing of equations), they can be ...
    (sci.logic)