"given the finite nature of the human mind and the infinite variety of the world, we probably just have to have a bunch of stories that we tell ourselves to get through the day"
Hello! Anybody out there? I have good “reason” to believe that The Powers that Be should add this lecture series to the Wes Cecil utube site. Found this by accident, but so glad it popped up. Great stuff! Hmmm... makes me wonder what else is out there? Was this a test to find these? Clever...Hmmm...Thank you!
you're wrong about the atom... Epicurus clearly theorized that tiny particles make up matter, air, water, fire. and he believes that different shapes of atoms make up the different properties. squares - matter, spheres - water, tubes - air, triangles - fire. going by memory from 30 years ago when I read his book on metaphysics , I think it was called "on nature" .
the issue of "human reasoning" is also a conundrum, we think/reason it to be sufficient/superior/legitimate.. however if our minds are just random chemicals, firing synapsis. then how and why would we trust it let alone put it on a pedestal.
I've also thought about "why math works" in my teens. it's simple. it's a man created system. like a board game. man creates the symbols/numbers attributes their values, then creates the rules to which to use them. just like in chess, they know it's check mate a few moves before the game ends. based on the established rules.
I think your last statement is the point: we don’t know why these established rules can be used to predict the behavior of the universe. You can certainly make up a math rule that isn’t predictive of universal behavior (ex: 2 + 2 = 5), but the true ones work by rules the universe set. Mathematicians just self impose the rule that to accept a mathematical principle, it has to be predictive of the universe, but they can’t answer why it’s predictive of the universe, only *that* it is.
But American coins only started having our leaders on them recently. For all of the 19th century, some of the 20th, and all of the two decades in the 18th Century when the US existed, our coins had either symbols (an Eagle carrying a shield on the 2 cent piece) or personifications of abstract concepts (the most popular by far being Lady Liberty, though the penny and nickel both had anonymous Native Americans).
I think that you illustrate the reason why maths work quite clearly; they are a set of rules. They are concepts that work because they follow the made up rules they have to follow to become maths. If I would devide some/all natural occuring phenomenon in ^&* an # and make up rules to explain that I could eleborate on that for centuries and it would always make sense according to those rules right?
The resolution to your last lecture is factually inaccurate. Our ancestors were geographically isolated from each other due nomadry. tectonic shifts. and environmental change.
thank you very very much for sharing these with us Mr. Cecil. i truly appreciate it.
"given the finite nature of the human mind and the infinite variety of the world, we probably just have to have a bunch of stories that we tell ourselves to get through the day"
Awesome
Hello! Anybody out there? I have good “reason” to believe that The Powers that Be should add this lecture series to the Wes Cecil utube site. Found this by accident, but so glad it popped up. Great stuff! Hmmm... makes me wonder what else is out there? Was this a test to find these? Clever...Hmmm...Thank you!
keep at it love your stuff philosophy is a love of mine but i am young so many are not the same
Could we request that these resume being uploaded to your Podcast series? :)
This series is now available in “Humane Arts” on Apple Podcasts. :) I searched for Wes Cecil and it came up.
you're wrong about the atom... Epicurus clearly theorized that tiny particles make up matter, air, water, fire. and he believes that different shapes of atoms make up the different properties. squares - matter, spheres - water, tubes - air, triangles - fire. going by memory from 30 years ago when I read his book on metaphysics , I think it was called "on nature" .
Kanada conceptualized atom much before Democritus. And later probably got from former
Christmas is simply HOPE and GRATITUDE...
the issue of "human reasoning" is also a conundrum, we think/reason it to be sufficient/superior/legitimate.. however if our minds are just random chemicals, firing synapsis. then how and why would we trust it let alone put it on a pedestal.
"hopefully most of you can come in person."
I live in Australia :(
I live in Australia :)
I've also thought about "why math works" in my teens. it's simple. it's a man created system. like a board game. man creates the symbols/numbers attributes their values, then creates the rules to which to use them. just like in chess, they know it's check mate a few moves before the game ends. based on the established rules.
I think your last statement is the point: we don’t know why these established rules can be used to predict the behavior of the universe.
You can certainly make up a math rule that isn’t predictive of universal behavior (ex: 2 + 2 = 5), but the true ones work by rules the universe set.
Mathematicians just self impose the rule that to accept a mathematical principle, it has to be predictive of the universe, but they can’t answer why it’s predictive of the universe, only *that* it is.
But American coins only started having our leaders on them recently. For all of the 19th century, some of the 20th, and all of the two decades in the 18th Century when the US existed, our coins had either symbols (an Eagle carrying a shield on the 2 cent piece) or personifications of abstract concepts (the most popular by far being Lady Liberty, though the penny and nickel both had anonymous Native Americans).
Somebody give that guy in row 14 a flipping cough drop !!!!
Can the person coughing in the back get a lozenge please?
Thank you professor.
I think that you illustrate the reason why maths work quite clearly; they are a set of rules. They are concepts that work because they follow the made up rules they have to follow to become maths. If I would devide some/all natural occuring phenomenon in ^&* an # and make up rules to explain that I could eleborate on that for centuries and it would always make sense according to those rules right?
Because it it Truth with a capital T!
" .... Theology starts with the god or gods or goddess's or whatever ... " Lol. Enjoying your whatever. Good job!
The resolution to your last lecture is factually inaccurate. Our ancestors were geographically isolated from each other due nomadry. tectonic shifts. and environmental change.
At the very least our bodies are definitely part of nature that is without doubt.
Should have called this series, "History of Western civilization."