williams@kirk.DEC (John Williams 223-3402) (09/10/84)
> On the other hand, it could be asserted that *none* of the > statements in the example list say anything about the strength of > the interconnection of sky to blue. They are *all* statements > about the speaker's confidence. Consider statements like: > I know the sky is blue. > I think the sky is blue. > I know the sky might be blue. > I think the sky might be blue. > Confidence and strength of asssociation vary independently of one > another, or so it seems to me. > "Words are tools, m'am, like screwdrivers and pistols." > Kevin D. Kissell Essentially, it is the speaker who makes the connections, and it is the audience who makes the interpretations. The validity of the concept being proposed is judged in accordance with the way in which the symbols fit together. One must have confidence in the speaker if anything of value is to be understood. It is the speaker which generates the strength of interconnection, and not just the sentence. It is the sentence that the speaker uses in order to express himself. The sentence is only a popular method, and not nessesarily the only means of expression. Confidence and strength of association are closely coupled together, it is difficult to have one without the other. As for words: Toys . . . learning, non-supportive Tools . . skill, self-supportive Weapons . wisdom, mutually-supportive The phasing from toys to tools to weapons is the way in which intelligence evolves. We are just now learning the mistakes of using weapons against one another, and how they might be used for the mutual benifit of mankind. ( <- I thought it might be appropriate to add that ) Intelligent beings are simply not born mature. This means we are less efficient than reptiles, but we are able to evolve more quickly. This is also the difference between synchronization and communication. < This sentence is grammatically incorrect > < This sentence is grammatically incomplete > < This sentence refers to itself > < If this sentence were not self referential, the comma would not be nessesary > < Repeated in this sentence is repeated in this sentence > And . . . < Every sentence is a question > < Some language. > ----{ john williams }---- (DEC E-NET) KIRK::WILLIAMS (UUCP) {decvax, ucbvax, allegra}!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-kirk!williams (ARPA) williams%kirk.DEC@decwrl.ARPA williams%kirk.DEC@Purdue-Merlin.ARPA