Don:
Is understanding confined only to our species? Can we imagine a form of understanding
that could occur without requiring any thinking? Or can a chimp, dog or parrot
understand human language?
Can understanding take place without a brain? Can a sperm do its job without some form
of understanding what that job is? Does a jellyfish swim without understanding how to
swim?
Can understanding exist separate and apart from life? Can a rock respond to gravity,
heat, light and the blows of another rock without having a form of understanding?
Norm
Don Mikulecky wrote:
> Norm,
> I suggest that "thinking" is a process and "understanding" an outcome of that
> process. With respect to the modeling relation, thinking is making use of the MR
> while "understanding" is the result having decided (subjectivly) that the MR
> commutes.
> Respectfully,
> Don
>
> "Norman K. McPhail" wrote:
>
> > I like to distinguish between thinking and understanding. Is there anything to be
> > gained from substituting "understanding" for "thinking" in your sentence?
> >
> > I may be "understanding" something, and my
> > dog, and my fish, and I don't know about my earwig, but my sourdough
> > starter, and the water swirling in my toilet bowl, and my glass of iced
> > tea, are NOT.
> >
> > NKM
> >
> > Cliff Joslyn wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > Parsimony, on the other hand, argues EXACTLY to not extend terminology
> > > beyond its appropriate boundaries. I may be "thinking" something, and my
> > > dog, and my fish, and I don't know about my earwig, but my sourdough
> > > starter, and the water swirling in my toilet bowl, and my glass of iced
> > > tea, are NOT.
> > >
> >
> > ========================================
> > Posting to pcp-discuss@lanl.gov from "Norman K. McPhail" <norm@socal.wanet.com>
>
> ========================================
> Posting to pcp-discuss@lanl.gov from Don Mikulecky <mikuleck@hsc.vcu.edu>
========================================
Posting to pcp-discuss@lanl.gov from "Norman K. McPhail" <norm@socal.wanet.com>
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