matabele comments on Rationality Quotes July 2012 - Less Wrong

3 Post author: RobertLumley 04 July 2012 12:29AM

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Comment author: matabele 27 July 2012 03:21:38PM *  -1 points [-]

Not necessarily deep; a couple of concrete interpretations:

'Do not let what you can not do, interfere with what you can do;' and 'If you wish to discover the unknown, begin by exploring what is known.'

There is often much hidden wisdom in interpretation of aphorisms, which perhaps explains my preference for the poetic turn of phrase.

Comment author: wedrifid 27 July 2012 03:38:22PM 5 points [-]

There is often much hidden wisdom

No, there are intentionally vague deep sounding comments to which wisdom can be associated. You've just given multiple meanings to the same words. Those other meanings may be useful but the words themselves are nonsense.

Comment author: matabele 27 July 2012 04:11:02PM -1 points [-]

... intentionally vague deep sounding ... (symbols) ... to which wisdom can be associated. You've just given multiple meanings to the same ... (symbols) ... Those other meanings may be useful but the ... (symbols) ... themselves are nonsense.

That pretty much describes any proposition. If you wish, substitute the word 'noise' for the word 'symbol, then the paragraph describes an utterance.

There is a good resource on semiotics here.

Comment author: wedrifid 27 July 2012 04:15:36PM 1 point [-]

That pretty much describes any proposition.

No it doesn't. Not all propositions are intentionally vague and deep sounding.

If you wish, substitute the word 'noise' for the word 'symbol

Were I inclined to substitute in 'noise' it would be as a contrast to 'signal'.

Comment author: matabele 27 July 2012 04:46:38PM 1 point [-]

Men show their characters in nothing more clearly than in what they think laughable.

-- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Comment author: wedrifid 27 July 2012 04:48:58PM *  1 point [-]

This is an excellent quote and belongs at the top level.

(I downvoted it here because the point you are trying to make by replying with it is approximately backwards. An intended insult which would make more sense as a compliment.)

Comment author: matabele 27 July 2012 05:26:03PM *  -2 points [-]

And there you have it: symbols (or strings of symbols) have different sense in different contexts.

One of the contexts in which I found this aphorism insightful, was in certain interpretations of quantum physics.

Comment author: matabele 29 July 2012 08:24:13AM *  -2 points [-]

Comment author: wedrifid 29 July 2012 09:07:49AM 0 points [-]

I have based this assumption on my perhaps mistaken impression that many LW users appear to have a bias toward Hugh Everett's many worlds interpretation of QM. If you have rational arguments to defend this position, please feel free to defend your position below.

I doubt the QM reference has anything to do with the reaction to your comment. It was downvoted for persistent confusion in the thread and smug irrelevance.

As for QM interpretations, that is boring and has been argued to death and is completely of-topic here. Look here for a list of subjects that have been thoroughly covered (the QM sequence) and if you must argue argue in the "the winner is many worlds" post that you'll see there. A few people will agree with you. Some may argue. Most will ignore you because it is not their responsibility.

Comment author: matabele 29 July 2012 01:00:45PM 0 points [-]

In the case that the second proposition (with respect QM) is irrelevant to the thread, any apparent dislike of the comment must associate to the first proposition.

... symbols (or strings of symbols) have different sense in different contexts ...

This in response to your comment:

This is an excellent quote ... I downvoted it here ...

Please elaborate.