Re: Hawking's talk in Dublin GR 17 On the spot report!

From: Bill Hobba (bhobba_at_rubbish.net.au)
Date: 07/26/04 

Date: Mon, 26 Jul 2004 02:59:47 GMT

"L Smithson" <LSmithsonvqm@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:35f3116e.0407250741.2cfb6c5d@posting.google.com...
> QncyMI@netscape.net (Brian Quincy Hutchings) wrote in message
news:<bde404c9.0407241257.1651f09b@posting.google.com>...
> > that's a recondite definition of the theoretical entity,
> > "censorially perceived phenomenon!"
> > nice of Hawking to finally admit that
> > it was just a "throwing up of hands."
>
>
> It is a pretty terrible construction, but the situation is that
> hopeless. The observer is himself phenomena sensing phenomena through
> sensing devices made of phenomena and theorizing about its nature by
> analyzing its representations on the mental plane, which if we dont
> assume, as is currently the fashion, the existence of a soul, is
> essentially phenomena.
>
> I forgot to mention the attachment of mathematical models to
> representations of phenomena and the tracing of these models beyond
> what is sensorialy perceivable.
>
> When this relentless play of mirrors and the perils of poor logical
> hygiene is taken into consideration we expose the hopelessness of much
> unverifiable theoretical discourse on reality. Keep the discourse
> going by all means; Just dont call it a decipherment of reality, or
> the mind of "GOD", and don't trumpet these findings as the truth. It
> is a highly subjective truth.

I still think you don't get it. Science is test, hypothesize, test,
hypothesize over and over. It matters not one wit if those hypothesis
include things that are not in principle 'sensorialy perceivable'. All that
matters is if it can make predictions about things that are. That is what
rules out the god created the world compete with dinosaur bones type
explanations - you can not use it to make predications that can be tested.
I still find it amazing such fundamental stuff needs to be pointed out.

Thanks
Bill

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Hawkings talk in Dublin GR 17 On the spot report!
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  • Re: Hawkings talk in Dublin GR 17 On the spot report!
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    (sci.math)
  • Re: Hawkings talk in Dublin GR 17 On the spot report!
    ... > that's a recondite definition of the theoretical entity, ... The observer is himself phenomena sensing phenomena through ... unverifiable theoretical discourse on reality. ... is a highly subjective truth. ...
    (sci.physics)