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Russell Standish on 12/05/2007 04:14 PM:
>> It blocks learning about what we
>> can't write formulas for, though, so I think it should be among the
>> first things to go.
>>
>
> What we cannot "write formulas for" (by which I mean "find
> compressible descriptions for"), we cannot learn. For that is the very
> nature of learning - being able to generalise from the specific.
I don't really disagree with you. But, given Douglas' self-restraint,
someone must jump in... and since I'm not afraid of making an ass out of
myself, it may as well be me. [grin]
I don't think it's completely true that we cannot learn something that
won't submit to a "good" compressible description. The difference
between tacit experience and explicit knowledge highlights that some
things (which seem to resist "good" compressed description) are
_learnable_. The catch lies in the definition of "learning".
Granted, personal (particular) experience can't be completely
transpersonal. Hence, all tacit experience has some element(s) that
cannot be formulated as explicit knowledge and transmitted. But, we can
_appeal_ to (or rely upon) some psychologically projected (imputed)
commonalities between us. For example, if I see you wearing shoes with
laces, I can assume that you know what it's like to tie your shoes. (No
smart-alack remarks about being dressed by one's mother!) And in that
sense, even if I can't write a formula for "tying one's shoes", I can
still _learn_ how to tie shoes. Further, I can use the inaccurate
("bad") formulas for how to tie one's shoes as a way to actually learn
how to tie shoes. Even further, I can _teach_ others how to tie their
shoes based on these "bad" models.
Hence, we can use "bad" models to learn something that has no "good" model.
One might even go so far as to say _that's_ the very nature of learning,
not as you characterize it above. Note, however, that this is
pre-scientific. Science (and all externalized, transpersonal methods)
relies wholeheartedly on making as much knowledge as explicit as
possible. If one went that far, it would be reasonable to assume that
the more autistic and rational of us learn best through the development
of compressed descriptions, whereas those of us addicted to getting our
hands dirty learn best through the use of "bad" models and direct
experience of applying those "bad" models.
- --
glen e. p. ropella, 971-219-3846, http://tempusdictum.com
Morality cannot exist one minute without freedom... Only a free man can
possibly be moral. Unless a good deed is voluntary, it has no moral
significance. -- Everett Martin
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