Re: D1. Separate computer science ontology from philosophical ontology
John,
Lainaus "John F. Sowa" <sowa@bestweb.net>:
> I have no idea what you mean by a "Perfect Philosophical Ontology".
PPO is an axiomatic system that takes in account e.g. realism-idealism,
realism-nominalism, determinism-anti_determinism, certainty-uncertainty,
thinker, and some more. PPO does not have to commit to any of these. It just
observes the possible combinations of these: which combinations work
together.
> Next to Peirce, one of my favorite philosophers is Whitehead,
> and I very strongly agree with his opinion on this topic:
>
> Systems, scientific and philosophic, come and go. Each
> method of limited understanding is at length exhausted.
> In its prime each system is a triumphant success: in its
> decay it is an obstructive nuisance.
>
> Alfred North Whitehead, _Adventures of Ideas_
>
> There are many theories of science that are rather close to the
> truth about the range of topics they have studied, and there are
> many theories of philosophy that are quite good as far as they go.
> And we've all learned a lot from them.
>
> But trying to say that any humanly conceived theory is absolutely
> perfect and will never be replaced by a better one is ridiculous.
Some things never change, such as ''cogito ergo sum''. Do you
disagree? If you don't, then you have to admit that some things
never change, and some thigs will never decay.
> If anyone tried to enforce any such theory as an official standard
> for all time, it would become an intolerably obstructive nuisance.
> It would stink to the highest heavens.
So, when did things such as the principle of contradiction and
''cogito ergo sum'' stink? In general, it is wrong to think that
the world is something so complex that it could not be sorted out.
It is the doctrine of ''live and don't think because thinking gets
so stinking''. Given the current total science, we can add a lot
to undeniable principles that will never decay, no matter how
much particulars things change, and no matter what new particles
or whatever new is discovered.
Avril