Lots of strong words and sentiments. Glen, do you distinguish between perceptions/[perspectives, models and scientific theories? Do you think of people who believe enough in quantum theory, general relativity, biological evolution, even Newtonian dynamics to act on it as certifiably WACKO? That's not to say that these theories won't ever be revised, overturned, etc. But to call people who act on what those theories predict WACKO seems extreme.
What about the model you have in your head as you cross the street? That model included cars coming at you. Not acting on that model seems more WACKO than acting on it? I think it would be useful to refine your statement a bit. Waiting for the light to change at a busy intersection (because of your model of how traffic lights, traffic, etc. work--which is not always the way it is but which works often enough and which may include drunk drivers and cases in which cars run red lights) seems more sane than following Jim Jones to Guyana. -- Russ On Wed, Dec 2, 2009 at 10:29 AM, Marcus G. Daniels <[email protected]>wrote: > glen e. p. ropella wrote: > >> It's not that some models >> are more wrong than others. It's that models are rhetorical devices. >> When you meet a person who really _believes_ her own rhetoric to the >> extent that they are convicted, committed, and unwaveringly confident in >> their own rhetoric ... well, then you KNOW you've got a certifiable >> WACKO on your hands. Following their consulting would be like following >> Jim Jones to Guyana ... >> > I think that in these circles if game theory makes propaganda more > compelling that is all that matters. > Why describe something when you can influence it? > Marcus > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
