From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!psych.toronto.edu!christo Mon Mar  9 18:34:12 EST 1992
Article 4166 of comp.ai.philosophy:
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Path: newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!psych.toronto.edu!christo
>From: christo@psych.toronto.edu (Christopher Green)
Subject: Re: Definition of understanding
Message-ID: <1992Feb29.162020.9271@psych.toronto.edu>
Organization: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
References: <1992Feb28.211025.26278@oracorp.com>
Date: Sat, 29 Feb 1992 16:20:20 GMT

In article <1992Feb28.211025.26278@oracorp.com> daryl@oracorp.com writes:
>christo@psych.toronto.edu (Christopher Green) writes:
>(in response to Paul Barton-Davis)
>
>>> You claim that the system
>>> is a part of him, but in what way ?
>
>>More obscuratism from the artificial intelligentisa. In the very
>>simple and obvious sense that there is no system at all apart from the
>>activity of his own mind.
>
>Like Paul said, you don't fully grasp the Systems Reply.
>Why don't you try to understand it before dismissing it as
>"obscurantism"? What is the point of such name-calling?
>
The charge of "obscurantism" is not name-calling. It is a fair characterization
IMHO of the sort of diversionary tactic being used here. If you haven't been
following the thread closely, then you're entitled, I suppose, to not realize
that the question of in "what way" the system is part of the man.
The "way" is very simple. In the "way" that he memorized the whole system.
In the "way" that there is no system apart from the cognitive activities
of the man. 

As for "reasoned" argument, I see nothing unreasoned about pointing
out a glaring similarity between what's going on here, and what is
described by one of the most influential philoosphers of science of 
the century. If you believe this observation is inaccurate, why don't
engage in a little reasoned argument and explain to me how the current
situation fails to comform to that described by Lakatos. Telling me
I'm being rude just doesn't cut it.

-- 
Christopher D. Green                christo@psych.toronto.edu
Psychology Department               cgreen@lake.scar.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto
---------------------


