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Article 1808 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: forbis@milton.u.washington.edu (Gary Forbis)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books,sci.philosophy.tech,comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Zeleny (was Re: Searle
Message-ID: <1991Dec2.195705.12427@milton.u.washington.edu>
Date: 2 Dec 91 19:57:05 GMT
References: <1991Dec1.113406.6027@husc3.harvard.edu> <12538@pitt.UUCP> <1991Dec2.110629.6077@husc3.harvard.edu>
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Organization: University of Washington, Seattle
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In article <1991Dec2.110629.6077@husc3.harvard.edu> zeleny@zariski.harvard.edu (Mikhail Zeleny) writes:
>Unlike internal representations like sense-data, abstract objects like
>propositions, expressed by our words, or numbers, denoted by them, can be
>meaningfully used in communication with those not enjoying privileged
>access to our mental processes.

It is not clear to me that the productions we call speech carry any meaning
other than than assumed by the listener.  I assume the productions are
intended to be meaningful and search for a meaning.  It is by alligning
the internal representations of the meaning I used last time I heard similar
productions within my worldview that lead me to produce the utterance "What
do you mean by 'meaningfully used in communication with those not enjoying
privileged access to our mental processes'?"

It is through interaction that I come to believe I know what others mean when
they say the words they say.  I see no reason to believe something could
produce the necessary behavior to indicate understanding without understanding.
I proceed on the assumption that differences in meaning will come to light
through continued use.

--gary forbis@u.washington.edu
(am I the only one who finds big signatures annoying?)


