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Article 1830 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: egnilges@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Ed Nilges)
Newsgroups: alt.postmodern,talk.philosophy.misc,comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Is "logical analysis" worth knowing?
Keywords: ai,ethics,butterfly,zombie,logic
Message-ID: <1991Dec2.171809.8847@Princeton.EDU>
Date: 2 Dec 91 17:18:09 GMT
References: <centaur.690241662@cc.gatech.edu> <1991Nov16.011947.29575@ucunix.san.uc.edu> <9111170903.20552@mydog.UUCP>
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In article <9111170903.20552@mydog.UUCP> gcf@mydog.UUCP (Gordon Fitch) writes:
>
>Could you all clarify something?  In my world -- the democratic
>vistas of the working class -- if somebody says "I don't know
>what you're talking about" it generally means "Please explain
>what you mean."  However, I have rubbed up against the academic
>world enough to know that "I don't know what you're talking 
>about" in certain situations can mean "I do know what you're 
>talking about, and you're full of crap -- in other words, I have 
>the power to judge your argument and you, and find both wanting."

Heh heh.  Damn good.  And damn right, much of the time.  However,
Gordon, note that in the academic world, "I don't know what you
are talking about" means not "I do know, and you're full of it", but
instead "I do NOT know, but I fail to see how understanding your
point will advance My Brilliant Career."  


