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Article 1469 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: zeleny@zariski.harvard.edu (Mikhail Zeleny)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy,sci.philosophy.tech
Subject: Re: Daniel Dennett
Message-ID: <1991Nov21.124817.5716@husc3.harvard.edu>
Date: 21 Nov 91 17:48:15 GMT
References: <OZ.91Nov17172508@ursa.sis.yorku.ca> <1991Nov18.083024.5560@husc3.harvard.edu> <9111184448@mwc.com>
Organization: Dada
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Nntp-Posting-Host: zariski.harvard.edu

In article <9111184448@mwc.com> 
michael@mwc.com (Michael Kaufman) writes:

>zeleny@zariski.harvard.edu (Mikhail Zeleny) writes:

MZ:
>>I believe that the very notion of "Man a Machine" is anti-humanistic both
>>in its intrinsic nature, and in its historical development (the guillotine,
>>labor camps, terrorist state).

MK:
>I am not sure what your point is.  Are you saying that since it is an anti-
>humanistic theory it cannot be valid?  Or are you saying that since it is
>anti-humanistic, it doesn't matter if it is valid and we shouldn't discuss
>it in any case? 

None of the above.  Specious philosophical doctrines (e.g. reductive or
eliminative materialism), like specious political doctrines (e.g. Marxism
or National-Socialism) must stand or fall based on their factual basis,
such as it may be.  On the other hand, when analyzing the latter, one must
never lose sight of the ethical values that underlie such theoretical
constructions.  It may come to pass that humanism and truth will find
themselves at odds at some point of scientific inquiry; however, until and
unless such tragic confrontation actually occurs, I shall feel compelled to
honor both of them equally.

>Michael


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: Mikhail Zeleny                                                     :
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