And finally, and I think most tellingly, we can talk about the experience of sonar. We can talk about the distance at which a dolphin can recognise a mackerel, or at which a bat can track a moth. — Banno
Consider that not everything in the intersubjective world was created by humans; a good deal of it is discovered - principles such as non-contradiction, natural numbers, all of the other 'furniture of reason'. — Wayfarer
That makes no sense. There are different kinds of "ordinary stuff", of matter. Matter seems to be constituted by fields and particles; what's the problem? — Janus
The point is that you cannot believe that 'x is P' is true, without believing that x is P without contradicting yourself. — Janus
Having the wrong conception of what ordinary stuff is made up of fundamentally. If you think it's all made of water or the five elements or just the stuff you can feel and see, then you're wrong about the world. — Marchesk
The argument is simply an observation. It's a commonplace, and that you can't see it is what is extraordinary here. — Banno
I rather think you nailed your flag to the mast too early, and would rather take it down now. — Banno
"simply an observation" won't do, it's theory ladened. — fdrake
Thanks but I've already eaten. — Daemon
What were you getting at? — Daemon
Just to make sure I understand, a belief is a thing in your own mind, and also a pattern of behaviour? But for a cat it's just a pattern of behaviour? — Daemon
Well, no, I think that very badly expressed. — Banno
Get involved in philosophical discussions about knowledge, truth, language, consciousness, science, politics, religion, logic and mathematics, art, history, and lots more. No ads, no clutter, and very little agreement — just fascinating conversations.