----- Original Message ----- From: "Devine, James" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 1:24 PM Subject: Re: [PEN-L] More on anti-corruption
The physics formula F = M.a is "circular," because each term is defined by the other two. The concept of a "point" in geometry is also circular. These examples (and many others) suggest that there is nothing wrong with circular definitions, as long as one is clear about the nature of that circularity. ================= There are virtuous and vicious circles in philosophy of science, epistemology etc. You are on the edge of a vicious circle regarding the relation between corruption and bourgeois right. Walter Gallie, anyone? of course, "corruption" is normative in the sense that it violates (official) bourgeois norms. But I didn't know that _pen-l's_ discussion was normative, i.e., that someone was proposing that corruption was _the_ problem to be opposed or something like that. ================= The discussion was normative from the get go even as no one suggested that corruption was *the* problem. I'm done. Ian
