From newshub.ccs.yorku.ca!ists!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!news-server.ecf!utgpu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!network.ucsd.edu!nosc!ryptyde!rjgrace Mon May 25 14:07:15 EDT 1992
Article 5851 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: rjgrace@netlink.cts.com (Jeff Grace)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Universe is a big place ,,,
Message-ID: <0us7kB1w164w@netlink.cts.com>
Date: 22 May 92 17:53:08 GMT
References: <1992May22.041258.14109@mp.cs.niu.edu>
Organization: NetLink Online Communications, San Diego CA
Lines: 44

rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (Neil Rickert) writes:
> In article <1992May22.014751.17847@u.washington.edu> forbis@carson.u.washingt
> >>In article <1992May21.194426.21081@u.washington.edu> forbis@carson.u.washin
> >>>In article <1992May21.153839.15713@mp.cs.niu.edu> rickert@mp.cs.niu.edu (N
> >>
> >>>> However, Goedel's incompleteness theorem has NOTHING to say about human
> >>>>cognitive ability.  It is merely a red herring which some people like to
> >>>>drag up from time to time.
> >>
> >>>I think Goedel's incompeteness theorem has everything to do with the forma
> >>>aspects of human cognition.  How can you consistently believe otherwise?
> >>
> >> Which formal aspects of cognition do you have in mind?
> >
> >Reason.
> 
>  How can you be sure that reason is part of cognition, rather than a
> cultural construction built with our cognitive abilities, but not itself
> part of them?
> 
> >We have gone out of our way to formalize our reasoning and that which is
> >not formal is labeled "irrational".  I think humanity is most proud of its
> >castles in the sky and trys to sweep the rest under the rugs.  Without our
> >formal reasoning we do not know if our beliefs are consistent with each othe
> >or form a complete system.
> 
>   Perhaps humanity is "most proud" of this because it is humanity's
> invention, rather than part of our native cognitive equipment.
> 
> >We know how to do integer arithmetic and a complete theory of cognition must
> >include a theory of how we can do integer arithmetic.  Goedel's incompletene
> >theorem applies to our theories of cognition and this tells us something abo
> >our cognitive abilities. 
> 
>   I would be quite satisfied to fully understand the cognition of members
> of a very primitive tribe which had not yet developed arithmetic.  How
> would Goedel apply to their cognition?  Yet their cognition is, apart from
> cultural influences, the same as ours.
> 
> -- 
> =*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
>   Neil W. Rickert, Computer Science               <rickert@cs.niu.edu>
>   Northern Illinois Univ.
>   DeKalb, IL 60115                                   +1-815-753-6940


