Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science

From: Wolf Kirchmeir (wwolfkir_at_sympatico.ca)
Date: 03/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 11:13:48 -0500

Albert Wagner wrote:
> Dave Rusin wrote:
>
>> In article <AN20e.14999$Fy.9304@okepread04>,
>> Albert Wagner <albertwagner@cox.net> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> I would be very interested in hearing a mathematical definition of
>>> 'infinite'/'infinity' that is not recursive.
>>
>>
>>
>> Definition: a set X is said to be infinite if there is a function
>> f : X --> X which is one-to-one but not onto.
>>
>> Is that "recursive"? (It IS the usual definition of the adjective
>> "infinite"
>> as applied to "set".)
>
>
> Geez. You are truly illiterate. That is not a definition of
> 'infinite'. In fact, it is not a definition of anything.

Notice, Dave, how Albert doesn't address the issue, but instead insults
you. That's his techqniue when you say something sensible that he
doesn't agree with, because to agree with it would be to admit that he
was wrong, or worse, made a mistake (maybe even -- horrors! - a silly
mistake.)

Of course your statement is a definition. It shows how to use
"infinite" in specified context. But Albert doesn't like specific
contexts, and even less does he like specific examples, because that
would mean he has to admit that his vague notions about what a word
means might actually be nonsense. See how he attacked me for providing
an example of how to use "accurate" and "precise" -- he said I was
obviously incapable of constructing a general definition of these terms.
But he was unwilling to provide one himself.

Then he attacked me for a comment in which I assumed that he used
"metaphysical" in the sense given in my dictionary, and he called me a
fucking idiot. I replied once more in a civilised fashion, and he
insulted me again.

There's no point. He suffers from some pathology of the ego, and lashes
out in rage whenever he is caught making some kind of mistake. He thinks
of debating and argument in terms of winning and losing: note his
unseemly crowing like a demented cockerel whenever he thinks he has won
a debating point. The last thing he wants to do is learn anything from
other people.

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