I would disagree to some extent with this position Aurino. Many scientists simply don't think it is relevant to their work if our senses are wrong. The whole philosophy of empiricism is that we are guided only by what is observable. To be observable doesn't mean that it must be real, and to be real doesn't mean it is observable.

You are correct, I didn't put it the right way.

Now, metaphysicians (philosophy) care about sensory perceptions in terms of what this means about the world. Dick is a metaphysician and thinks like a metaphysician and that is why he cannot understand why science has absolutely no interest in his work.

I came to believe that Dick understands very little about anything. You take it for granted that understanding what people say is trivial, when in fact it's an enormously difficult task some people just don't have the mental apparatus to handle.

Can you imagine living in a world where everyone seems to talk the way Alan does? Believe me, some people perceive the world just like that. The gap between gibberish and meaning can only be filled by the listener, and some listeners just don't have that ability.

I didn't say the problem was not solvable. I only say it is far from solvable.

I'd say it's far from solvable on a conscious level, since you don't know how to do it. On a subconscious level, though, it's so simple any child can do it.

However, this does not mean that we should accept fanciful metaphysics such as Dick's approach, or the advice of people who should be receiving medication for a serious mental illness disorder. Many brilliant minds are working in projects involving the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind. These problems are difficult to solve since most likely there are key theories that we lack. If we had those theories, then maybe we might have a better understanding on how learning a first language is possible or how it is that we can conceive of things without a spoken language, etc. Of course, this kind of talk I realize has irritated you in the past.

I don't know exactly what irritated me in the past, but I can tell you that getting a glimpse of Dick's mind has been quite an experience for me. I don't disagree with anything you said in the paragraph above, but I'm not sure I can explain myself so you can agree with me.

• Sorry to be gruff - harvey1 - September 29, 2003 - 20:53 UTC
  • It's alright - aurino_ - September 29, 2003 - 22:02 UTC
    • true - harvey1 - September 29, 2003 - 22:32 UTC
    • so maybe i'm dense - sagefr0g - September 30, 2003 - 02:17 UTC
      • Tim, the other three folks "still" here have something in common - carefuluniverse - October 2, 2003 - 05:34 UTC
        • if you followed the game thread - sagefr0g - October 2, 2003 - 14:26 UTC