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This is an Assumption
This is an Assumption
All domains of knowledge rest upon some form of assumptions. Philosophy, it appears to claim, thinks it does not do so but that is for another discussion. Our first conscious contact with assumptions probably occurred when we took Geometry and started with axioms such as “a straight line is the shortest distance between two points”. The natural sciences assume the world is knowable, quantifiable, measurable, etc. Theology assumes the existence of a caring God and the reliability of the written word. Every domain of knowledge is limited by its assumptions. The assumptions distort and limit the world of enquiry for that domain of knowledge. Our intellectual worldview is filled with assumptions. I think that one task of intellectual maturity is examining our closely held assumptions, which in many cases are carried over from our childhood. Track down your ideologies and examine the assumptions upon which they rest would be a good way to overcome a boring Sunday afternoon. What assumption does one make in the name of patriotism? I am inclined to say that patriotism is ‘love of country’. I must assume that my nation deserves my love. I must assume that love can be a rationally induced emotion. I assume I my not know what I am talking about here. Cognitive science has in the last three decades developed empirical evidence that sounds very convincing to me that these ‘gut feelings’ that are also called assumptions are the result of accumulations of experiences. The theory or paradigm is called ‘conceptual metaphor’. |
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Spec Edit: As much as I can admire you for having the will to self learn and try to expand your own knowledge, you're going to have to get a little bit more organized in your assertations before you start posting them anymore. |
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Questions for discussion Why is the axiom “a straight line is the shortest distance between two points on a two dimensional surface” true? Is it true? Can anyone prove it? Why is not every domain of knowledge capable of determining the acceptability of its own assumptions? What domain of knowledge can determine the acceptability of the assumptions of all other domains of knowledge? |
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Re: This is an Assumption
kit
You assume " a path is the shortest path from A to C". |
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If you followed the argument, you'd see that it makes sense. |
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Yes, much better. Start doing this and we'll be peach. Thank you good sir, -Spec |
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pf:
Given points a and b as coordinates in the plane of a two dimensional surface, assume that a straight line is NOT the shortest distance between a and b. Then, there must be another shortest path between a and b. Following Kit's argument, we have a contradiction. Is that a valid proof? |
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Coberst is a bot, someone, might be testing new type or something. /shrug
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Yeah, maybe. Maybe so....
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Read Godel's Proofs
Read Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter. These examine the very nature of what you are talking about. |
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Suppose the line is drawn on a piece of paper, fold starting point until it touches the endpoint. Therefore, contorting things can change the theory that the shortest way to point A to point B is a straight line. This is also applied in space travel. If we can literally bend space itself then we may be able to travel farther in less time. Saw this on Discovery channel. ;)
I shouldn't be thinking this hard I'm only 14. |
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