Two issues I wish to mention, here. Firstly, I present a few rapid-fire ideas about objective morality, culminating in an integration of aesthetics, intelligence, and morality, all in a few brief sentences ;)
Secondly, I give a mention to computer scientist Randy Pausch, who recently died. As regards the first issue: It’s been said there are clear ways to determine physical and mathematical facts, but nothing similar for values. But, in point (2) below I point out what appears to be an objectively existing set of values which underlies *all* of science. I present two brief but profound points that I what readers to consider and ponder carefully: Point (1) there is a clear evolution to the universe. It started from a low-entropy-density state, and is moving towards a higher-entropy density, which, remarkably, just happens to coincide with an increase in physical complexity with time. In the beginning the universe was in a state with *the lowest possible* entropy. This is expressed in the laws of thermodynamics and big bang cosmology. So it simply isn’t true that there is no teleology (purpose) built into the universe. The laws of thermodynamics and modern cosmology (big bang theory) clearly express the fact that there is. Point (2) the whole of science relies on Occam’s razor, the idea that the universe is in some sense ‘simple’. It must be emphasized that Occam’s razor pervades all of science – it is not simply some sort of ‘add on’. As Popper pointed out, an infinite number of theories could explain any given set of observations; therefore any inductive generalization requires a principle – Occam’s razor – to get any useful results at all. Here is the point that most haven’t quite grasped - Occam’s razor is *a set of aesthetic principles* - the notion of ‘simplicity’ is *a set of aesthetic principles*; Why? Because it is simply another way of saying that some representations are more *elegant* than others, which is the very notion of aesthetics! I repeat: the whole of science only works because of a set of *aesthetic principles* - a *set of values*. If all values are only subjective preferences, it would follow that the whole of science relies on subjective preferences. But subjective preferences have only existed as long as sentiments – therefore how could physical laws have functioned before sentiments? The idea that all values are subjective leads to a direct and blatant logical contradiction. Both these points are related and simply inexplicable without appealing to objective terminal values. At the beginning of time the universe was in the simplest possible state (minimal entropy density). Why? Occam’s razor is wide-ranging and pervades the whole of science. The simple is favored over the complex – that is– Occam’s razor is a set of aesthetic value judgments without which not a single Bayesian result could be obtained. *Every single Bayesian result rests on these implicit value judgments* to set priors. It must be repeated that *not one single scientific result could be obtained* without these secret (implicit) value judgments which set priors, that our defenders of the Bayesian faith on these forums are trying to pretend are not part of science! The secret to intelligence is aesthetics, not Bayesian math. Initially, this statement seems preposterous, but the argument in the next paragraph is my whole point, so it merits careful reading (the paragraph is marked with a * to show this is the crux of this post): *As regards the optimization of science, the leverage obtained from setting the priors (Occam’s razor – aesthetics – art) is far greater that that obtained from logical manipulations to update probabilities based on additional empirical data (math). Remember, the aesthetic principles used to set the priors (Occam’s razor) reduce a potentially infinite set of possible theories to a manageable (finite) number, whereas laborious mathematical probability updates based on incoming empirical data (standard Bayesian theory) is only guaranteed to converge on the correct theory after an infinite time, and even then the reason for the convergence is entirely inexplicable. The * paragraph suggests that aesthetics is the real basis of intelligence, not Bayesian math, and further that aesthetic terminal values are objectively real. For those who do initially find these claims preposterous, to help overcome your initial disbelief, I point to a superb essay from well- respected computer hacker, Paul Graham, who explains why aesthetics plays a far greater role in science than many have realized: ‘Taste for Makers’: http://www.paulgraham.com/taste.html As regards the second issue, I’d like to draw readers’ attention to computer scientist Randy Pausch. Randy Pausch was a computer scientist who developed the famous ‘Alice’ software to teach programming in a virtual reality setting. He was a virtual reality expert, a professor in Human-Computer Interaction at Carnegie Mellon University. In August, 2007 he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and given 3-6 months to live. He gave a famous ‘Last Lecture’ which spread virally (via ‘YouTube’) and inspired millions (this was followed by a book ‘The Last Lecture’). He died on 25th July, 2008 . The Randy Pausch Memorial Footbridge connects the Gates Center for Computer Science, with an adjacent arts building, symbolizing the bridge between art and science. Randy Pausch Home Page: http://download.srv.cs.cmu.edu/~pausch/ --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---