Howdy Platt,
PLATT:
...It's "opinion" that bothers me. My dictionary says opinion means "belief
resting on grounds insufficient to product certainty."
RICK:
The second half of that definition is superfluous. Try using only the first
half, "Opinion: A belief resting on grounds." Now try, "Fact: An 'opinion'
with respect to which no contrary grounds are known."
PLATT:
So I take you believe there are no certain facts...
RICK:
Are any particular facts 'absolutely certain' such that they will last
forever and never be refuted? As I have no clue what 'grounds' will be
discovered in the future, I can only say... I don't know.
RICK (from last post):
"...This theory of provisional truth is not original to Pirsig (not even
close), it's a time-honored view of argumentation theorists...."
PLATT:
Since by your own account "time-honored" doesn't mean valid...
RICK:
Actually, by my theory 'time-honored' doesn't mean CERTAIN. I'm curious as
to why you've now substituted in the term 'valid' for the 'certainty' that
you were so concerned with in the previous points.
PLATT:
...I take it this theory is also provisional....
RICK:
Yes... this theory IS also provisional. Maybe, someday somebody will show
us
grounds to believe that certainty is possible, and that facts and truths
aren't provisional... Maybe.
PLATT:
...Or are some theories more provisional than others?
RICK:
We are as 'certain' of a given opinion/theory/fact as we are of our
perceptions and judgments about the 'grounds' that support it.
PLATT:
Are these last hurdles between us and a hug insurmountable?
RICK:
I don't think so... but obviously, I can't be certain....
rick
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Sat Aug 17 2002 - 16:01:47 BST