Can you determine error? What criteria do you use? Re error: Comparison and contrast are essential to discovering differences in a set. One must choose whether differences or similarities are the main criteria for error or accuracy. If differences, then the most accurate example is the one with the most varied differences in a set; if accuracy, then the best example is the set with the fewest differences. Re quality: This relies on independent objective or subjective criteria. If objective, then a rule or set of rules for quality can be stipulated for comparison and contrast with the thing being valued; if subjective, then it's a matter of personal taste and persuasion (by whatever means from enticement to coercion); if a mix of the two, as is likely the most common, then it's a matter of debate at best or the case remains unsettled. That's what I think right now but I'm open to persuasion or intellectual coercion, including witty rebuttals, nitpicking reason, shouts, cursing, banging the table, throwing things, and threats against my character and manhood, and solemn challenges to a duel -- with marshmallows, of course. wc
----- Original Message ---- From: Michael Brady <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sun, November 11, 2012 9:57:55 AM Subject: Error and quality I've been preoccupied lately by two ideas that I believe are related: Error Quality First, specifically, why is there error? Not, how does an error occur? Nor am I interested in the teleological answere that error produces diversity, which is a good thing (and which strikes me as a circular argument). Why is there error? Why is there no perfect duplication or action? Second, why is it that some people cannot discern or distinguish the limits of lesser quality? Why do some people accept an artful production (music, dance, painting, etc.) as suitable and highly accomplished when it isn't? I am not picking a quarrel with gauche taste and making a case for more art education. I am interested in the process or mechanism or explanation of why it is that some people cannot distinguish between the mediocre and the high quality. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Michael Brady
