Author Archives: Jon Awbrey

What part do arguments from authority play in mathematical reasoning?

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

In forming your answer you may choose to address any or all of the following aspects of the question: Descriptive What part do arguments from authority actually play in mathematical reasoning? Normative What part do arguments from authority ideally play … Continue reading →

Posted in Artificial Intelligence, Authority, Control, Control Theory, Cybernetics, Fixation of Belief, History of Mathematics, History of Science, Information, Information Theory, Inquiry, Inquiry Driven Systems, Intelligent Systems, Intuition, Logic, Logic of Science, Mathematical Intuition, Mathematical Reasoning, Operations Research, Optimal Control, Optimization, Philosophy of Science, Scientific Method | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

C.S. Peirce : Information = Comprehension × Extension

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

Re: R.J. Lipton and K.W. Regan • A Most Perplexing Mystery The inverse relationship between symmetry and diversity — that we see for example in the lattice-inverting map of a Galois correspondence — is a variation on an old theme … Continue reading →

Posted in C.S. Peirce, Comprehension, Diversity, Extension, Information, Information = Comprehension × Extension, Inquiry, Intension, Logic, Logic of Science, Peirce, Reciprocity, Semiotics, Sign Relations, Symmetry, Variety | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Rock On

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

Elsewhere I have brought out the fact that human will had no other purpose than to maintain awareness.  But that could not do without discipline.  Of all the schools of patience and lucidity, creation is the most effective.  It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Absurdity, Albert Camus, Diversity, Existentialism, Freedom, Myth, Oedipus, Passion, Revolt, Sisyphus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Finding a Needle in a Cactus Patch

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

Re: R.J. Lipton • Sex, Lies, And Quantum Computers Don’t know much about quantum computation, but my ventures in graphical syntaxes for propositional calculus did turn up a logical operator whose evaluation process reminded me a little of the themes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boolean Functions, C.S. Peirce, Cactus Graphs, Computational Complexity, Graph Theory, Logic, Logical Graphs, Minimal Negation Operators, Painted Cacti, Peirce, Propositional Calculus, Quantum Computing, Semiotics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Revolt, Freedom, Passion

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

Thus I draw from the absurd three consequences, which are my revolt, my freedom, and my passion. By the mere activity of consciousness I transform into a rule of life what was an invitation to death — and I refuse suicide. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Absurdity, Albert Camus, Existentialism, Freedom, Inquiry, Method, Nietzsche, Passion, Revolt, Sisyphus | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Absurdum Quid

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

I am thus justified in saying that the feeling of absurdity does not spring from the mere scrutiny of a fact or an impression, but that it bursts from the comparison between a bare fact and a certain reality, between … Continue reading →

Posted in Absurdity, Albert Camus, Existentialism, Inquiry, Method, Peirce, Pragmatic Maxim, Pragmatism, Sisyphus, Tertium Quid, Thirdness, Triadicity | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Infinite Uses → Finite Means

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

The idea that a language is based on a system of rules determining the interpretation of its infinitely many sentences is by no means novel.  Well over a century ago, it was expressed with reasonable clarity by Wilhelm von Humboldt in … Continue reading →

Posted in Automata, Chomsky, Descartes, Finite Means, Formal Grammars, Formal Languages, Foundations of Mathematics, Infinite Use, Innate Ideas, Linguistics, Pigeonhole Principle, Recursion, Syntax, Wilhelm von Humboldt | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Way The Cookie Uncrumbles Itself

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

I put down the cup and turn to my mind.  It is up to my mind to find the truth.  But how?  What grave uncertainty, whenever the mind feels overtaken by itself;  when it, the seeker, is also the obscure … Continue reading →

Posted in Anamnesis, Inquiry, Inquiry Driven Systems, Inquiry Into Inquiry, Madeleine, Memory, Proust, Time | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What It Is

Posted on April 13, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

Re: Gil Kalai If I remember my long ago readings well enough, Jimmy the Ancient Greek could lay odds as well as any modern bookmaker on the outcomes of Olympic contests, but that was not really the point of Zeno’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Heraclitus, Infinity, Logic, Mathematics, Motion, Paradox, Parmenides, Phenomenology, Zeno | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Slip Slidin’ Away

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Jon Awbrey

And you give me the choice between a description that is sure but that teaches me nothing and hypotheses that claim to teach me but that are not sure. — Albert Camus • The Myth of Sisyphus Re: R.J. Lipton … Continue reading →

Posted in Albert Camus, C.S. Peirce, Change, Differential Logic, Infinity, Lewis Carroll, Logic, Mathematics, Meno, Modus Ponens, Motion, Paradox, Phenomenology, Sisyphus, Syllogism, Time, Zeno | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments