dmb says: It depends on the context so much that we can't really say in advance where the strong and weak connections. For example, last night I had sea urchins and apples for dinner. In that case, the connection was downright intimate. I mean, one of my problems with analogies like web, net or even chains is that those structures don't generally shift around to accommodate novel connections while language clearly does.
[Krimel] Of course it depends on context and through context associations within a network are strengthened and weakened. Having apples and sea urchins for dinner is an interesting choice and would serve to strengthen the conception between the concepts as does discussing them here. One aspect of the associationistic networks I am talking about is the way they do shift around as patterns of connections strengthen and weaken over time. [dmb] Seems like you've taken an analogy too far, as if we were talking about an actual architectural arrangement. A "universal geometric structure" that appears to us in several dimensions? I don't understand why it should be thought of as universal or geometric. And the stuff about dimensions just sounds like made-up nonsense. I realize you're wild about fractals but I still don't see what you mean. [Krimel] This is a structure that exists both through chance and design; chance in nature and design in the fractal structures of Pirsig's Giant. I mean dimension in the usual sense. The two dimensional structure of rivers and highways, the three dimensions of trees and the four dimensions of families trees. [dmb] I think the various parts of trees, rivers and nervous systems are too discrete to capture this important feature of the idea. But that's an aesthetic choice that depends on the context too, I suppose. [Krimel] In many instances the whole point is the growth of connections between discrete entities. Highway systems for example grow in response to the increasing needs to connect cities and locations within cities. Branches and roots of trees grow thicker in response to the increased energy flow from smaller branches supporting leaves collecting energy from sunlight. Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
