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Article 1257 of comp.ai.philosophy:
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>From: erwin@trwacs.UUCP (Harry Erwin)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Is semiotics an "informal logic"?
Message-ID: <432@trwacs.UUCP>
Date: 10 Nov 91 15:35:29 GMT
References: <1991Nov8.225437.8880@nuscc.nus.sg> <TTF6aB3w164w@depsych.Gwinnett.COM>
Organization: TRW Systems Division, Fairfax VA
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rc@depsych.Gwinnett.COM (Richard Carlson) writes:

>....  Yet new problems, new tendencies,
>and new directions in semiotics that are appearing on the horizon
>should be mentioned briefly before closing.  The first is related
>to catastrophe theory which is an attempt to ground semiotics in
>mathematics....  
>....  For me
>this is not very economical, so I leave this scientific task to
>mathematicians....
>....  Catastrophe theory is important insofar as it
>accentuates the reality of the world and gives a more scientific
>basis to the entire project.

The attitude of most mathematicians towards catastrophe theory is probably
best expressed by Stephen Smale in his review of Catastrophe theory:
Selected papers, 1972-77, by E. C. Zeeman: "On the other hand good
mathematical models are not generated by mathematicians throwing models to
sociologists, biologists, etc. for the latter to pick up and develop. Both
Thom and Zeeman seem to fit this caricature sometimes in their work or
when they give their views on the future of CT in science. Good
mathematical models don't start with the mathematics, but with a deep
study of certain natural phenomena. Mathematical awareness or even
sophistication is useful when working to model economic phenomena for
example, but a successful model depends much more on a penetrating study
and understanding of the economics."

I take this very much to heart, since I, too, have a tendency to throw
models to people working in applied fields, where the model may not be
directly applicable, and may well show behavior that is not to be expected
in the actual system. Mea culpa.


-- 
Harry Erwin
Internet: erwin@trwacs.fp.trw.com



