Re: Epistemology 201: The Science of Science

From: Albert Wagner (albertwagner_at_cox.net)
Date: 03/23/05 

Date: Wed, 23 Mar 2005 12:23:34 -0600

Wolf Kirchmeir wrote:
> 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.

Yes, maybe Dave will kiss you boo-boo, Wolf. Hide there behind
his skirts until he notices you. 

-- 
"I know that most men, including those at ease with
problems of the greatest complexity, can seldom
accept even the simplest and most obvious truth
if it be such as would oblige them to admit the falsity
of conclusions which they have delighted in explaining
to colleagues, which they have proudly taught to others,
and which they have woven, thread by thread,
into the fabric of their lives." -
	-- Tolstoy