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Gordon, John, and everyone,<br>
<br>
Yes, language, or its current inability to describe what we are talking
about is the biggest problem. We believe that is another important
reason for canonization of such, or surveying what language works best
for the most people. We can't comunicate untill we agree on what our
words mean, and we have non ambiguous terminology capable of describing
what we must talk about.<br>
<br>
So how about we back up a bit and start with the very obvious basics?
Once that is clear, perhaps we can move on from there?<br>
<br>
Consider looking at a strawberry patch of green leaves and red
strawberries. Everyone must agree that the perception process of this
red vs green could be inverted in many different ways at any location
in the chain of events that is the perception process. You could use a
TV camera / monitor system to invert the red/green. You could kind of
use colored glasses to invert the red/green. Or you could
theoretically add a neural inverting system spliced into the optic
nerve. <br>
<br>
Regardless of where the signal was inverted, our knowledge and ability
to be aware of, to behave intelligently about, and pick the
strawberries, and so on, would not change. But, in one case, the
strawberries would be red, and in the inverted case the strawberries
would be green. And of course, the nature of the strawberry itself,
and the way it causally reflects 700 nm light will not have changed at
all.<br>
<br>
That much is quite simple, obvious and easy to understand right?
Everyone must accept this simple fact as absolutely true?<br>
<br>
Brent Allsop<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
Gordon Swobe wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:595851.59547.qm@web36507.mail.mud.yahoo.com"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">--- On Tue, 1/27/09, John K Clark <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:jonkc@bellsouth.net"><jonkc@bellsouth.net></a> wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Bullshit, Of course we do!...according to [Brent] that
subjective salty taste comes from a molecule of sodium
chloride not from my mind. According to [Brent] the molecule
is shouting TASTE SALTY, TASTE SALTY.
A more idiotic idea is hard to imagine.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap=""><!---->
Aside from the idea that molecules literally "shout" (of course they don't shout), the theory you attribute to Brent did not seem idiotic to the philosopher John Locke.
I went 'round and 'round with Brent on this subject here a couple of years ago. It seemed to me that Brent had rediscovered Locke's theory. Brent did not agree, but I've yet to find a better explanation for whatever Brent has in mind.
On Locke's view there exist two kinds of properties of objects: primary and secondary. Primary properties of objects include solidity, extension, figure, motion and rest, and number. Secondary properties of objects include color, temperature, smell, taste and sound.
It seemed to me that Brent's idea of "phenomenal qualities of objects" must in some way correspond to Locke's idea of "secondary properties of objects".
Brent said no, that his idea of "phenomenal properties" does not correspond to Locke's idea of "secondary properties".
Shortly thereafter I dropped the subject with him.
To Brent:
It seems obvious to me that you feel very excited about your theories concerning these so-called "phenomenal properties". I have no doubt that you have a clear idea in your mind of whatever want to say. I feel sorry that I, and others it seems, do not understand the language you use to convey your ideas.
-gts
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