Re: [Fwd: ISSS meeting in June.....Draft of Abstract]

John J. Kineman (jjk@NGDC.NOAA.GOV)
Fri, 12 Feb 1999 14:45:46 -0700


At 08:27 AM 2/12/99 -0800, you wrote:
.... I would like to learn more about the nature of the "special axiom"
>proposed in the following paragraph. ...
>>
>> I have argued that in order to properly see the new paradigm that one
>> must have a certain type of "paradox" up front - as it where we must
>> have a special axiom. This type of axiom was accepted by Russian
>> Applied Semiotics (D. Pospelov and V. Finn) but rejected by the NIST
>> School of Semiotics headed by A. Mystel. It is an axiom that appears to
>> me to be consistent with I. Prigogine's work and with the philosophical
>> arguments of R. Penrose.
>
>NKM

I too would like to know the specifics of how this has been axiomatized.

Here is how I've viewed it in my own philosophy/epistemology
(http://www.bayside.net/NPO/BMI/autevol/ghw_epi.htm -- "Growth of
knowledge"): "Paradox" plays a central role in transitions to a new
paradigm. Any theory exists within a set of founding assumptions
(metaphysics, or worldview). Rigorous construction of all possibilities
within that framework will eventually exhaust the explanatory value of the
view itself. The better worldviews last longer and explain more. The poorer
ones don't go very far. But "exhaustion" of the worldview will appear as an
increasing number of paradoxes -- two "correct" statements within the
particular view that are also contradictory within that view. The classic
example is constancy of the speed of light and the principle of relativity.
The new paradigm (e.g., the theory of relativity) removes the conflict,
holding both seemingly contradictory statements to be true. I tried to
flowchart this, but get into axioms as such.

-----------------------------------------------
John J. Kineman, Physical Scientist/Ecologist
National Geophysical Data Center
325 Broadway E/GC1 (3100 Marine St. Rm: A-152)
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jjk@ngdc.noaa.gov (email)