Re: virus: The One or the Many? (was: META)

Brett Lane Robertson (unameit@tctc.com)
Fri, 31 Oct 1997 20:24:17 -0500


At 06:29 PM 10/31/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>Though WW Webster seems to include definitions which put "doubt" in the
>>category of an objective "something" which one possesses and by which one
>>might choose not to affirm (in a positive sense), Roget's Thesaurus includes
>>doubt in the category of negation of ideas:
>
>Indeed, a thesaurus can bolster any and all arguments. I remain in doubt
>without evidence. That is about all.
>
>To a life without memes!
> Wade T. Smith

List,

I could easily say that a *dictionary* bolsters any and all
arguments...what's the point of continuing to treat me like an idiot in
front of all these nice people, Wade?

I searched for a metaphysic of "doubt". Found "Scepticism" and Descartes.
I think you are a sceptic (by which you assume that everything discerned by
the senses is only partially true at best and therefore doubt is some
inherent characteristic of being subjective). I on the other hand might
consider myself to be Cartesian...

... I gradually rooted out from my mind all the errors which
had hitherto crept into it. Not that in this I imitated the sceptics who
doubt only that they may doubt, and seek nothing beyond uncertainty
itself; for, on the contrary, my design was singly to find ground of
assurance, and cast aside the loose earth and sand, that I might reach
the rock or the clay. In this, as appears to me, I was successful enough...

>From DISCOURSE ON THE METHOD OF RIGHTLY CONDUCTING THE REASON, AND SEEKING
TRUTH IN THE SCIENCES by Rene Descartes

gopher://wiretap.spies.com:70/00/Library/Classic/reason.txt

I think Descartes (and certainly Berkeley) would agree that to doubt is to
be soulless and godless and without recourse to truth.

Brett

Returning,
rBERTS%n
Rabble Sonnet Retort
The average woman would rather have beauty than brains,
because the average man can see better than he can think.