From: SQUONKSTAIL@aol.com
Date: Sun Jul 13 2003 - 20:39:35 BST
Squonk,
sq: Rational thought is derived from symbolic manipulation of symbols. Its a
particular method, not intellect itself. Being a method it is art. You don't
need subjects and objects to do maths or geometry and Scott asserts this, as
does Mr, Pirsig. You're not doing very well are you? Maybe its time for that
essay of yours.
I did not assert this. What I said was:
"However, there was no mathematics in this sense until the Greeks, and the
S/O divide. Earlier mathematics, like that of the Egyptians, amounted to
rules of thumb for doing other things. There was no "thinking about" right
angles in themselves, just using the 3-4-5 rule to mark a right angle."
and this:
"I also have said that mathematics, while itself not S/O thinking, comes
after S/O thinking. One doesn't have the detachment, or mental space, beforehand
to do mathematics (by which I mean proving theorems and suchlike, not just
measuring and counting)."
So clearly I am saying that mathematics depends on the S/O divide, though, in
a weak sense, it also transcends it.
- Scott
But the divide is not an intellectual one - its one of value derived from
biological and social differentiation. Remember my point about smelling the
opposite sex and recognising leaders? These differentiation's are found in language
well before rational thought.
squonk.
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