> Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 09:18:10 +0200
> From: tor...@dsv.su.se
> To: everything-list@googlegroups.com
> Subject: Re: The seven step-Mathematical preliminaries
>
>
> Jesse Mazer skrev:
>>
>>
>>> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 18:38:23 +0200
>>> From: tor...@dsv.su.se
>>> To: everything-list@googlegroups.com
>>> Subject: Re: The seven step-Mathematical preliminaries
>>>
>>> For you to be able to use the word "all", you must define the "domain"
>>> of that word. If you do not define the domain, then it will be
>>> impossible for me and all other humans to understand what you are
>>> talking about.
>>
>> OK, so how do you say I should define this type of "universe"? Unless
>> you are demanding that I actually give you a list which spells out
>> every symbol-string that qualifies as a member, can't I simply provide
>> an abstract *rule* that would allow someone to determine in principle
>> if a particular symbol-string they are given qualifies? Or do you have
>> a third alternative besides spelling out every member or giving an
>> abstract rule?
>
> You have to spell out every member.
Where does this "have to" come from? Again, is it something you have a
philosophical or logical definition for, or is it just your aesthetic
preference?
Because in a *rule* you are
> (implicitely) using this type of "universe", and you will then get a
> circular definition.
A good rule (as opposed to a 'bad' rule like 'the set of all sets that do not
contain themselves') gives a perfectly well-defined criteria for what is
contained in the universe, such that no one will ever have cause to be unsure
about whether some particular symbol-string they're given at belongs in this
universe. It's only "circular" if you say in advance that there is something
problematic about rules which define infinite universes, but again this just
seems like your aesthetic preference and not something you have given any
philosophical/logical justification for.
Jesse
--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
"Everything List" group.
To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com
For more options, visit this group at
http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
