Bruno Marchal wrote: > > On 14 Aug 2009, at 09:11, Rex Allen wrote: ...
>> >>>> Uncaused things can't be explained. They just are. >>>> >>>> So what causes the complexity and structure of the things that I am >>>> conscious of? Nothing. That's just the way my experience is. >>> ? I can't accept this, because I am interested in the how and why of >>> complexity of things and happenings. >> So you can look for patterns in what you observe, and interesting ways >> to represent what you have observed in the past. > > Not just that. I look for understanding. I criticize enough the > scientists who confuse description and prediction with explanation. I disagree that this a confusion. A description of something you don't understand in terms of something you do understand is one form of explanation. The ability to predict is an excellent measure of understanding. I think the only confusion comes from conflating different kinds of explanation or thoughtlessly switching from one to another. I would say that your explanation of the world is a descriptive one and basing it on arithmetic is appealing because we understand arithmetic. And I think you agree that if it makes false predictions it fails as an explanation. Brent --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To post to this group, send email to everything-list@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to everything-list+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
