(September 10, 2015 at 10:21 pm)JuliaL Wrote:(September 10, 2015 at 9:33 pm)Pyrrho Wrote:
David Hume:
http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/341#Hume_0222_239
That Hume guy again...
I have uniformly found that every inspiration or thought with merit I have had in my long life has been anticipated.
I find that annoying, too. I remember in school encountering someone who told me that he envied me, because I was a disciple of Hume, and had found something with which to agree, and he had not found that. I replied that I envied him in that I wished I had something original to contribute (though, to be more precise, I do not wish to be wrong, so I am glad I agree with Hume because of that).
(September 10, 2015 at 10:21 pm)JuliaL Wrote: But in this case Hume is being only descriptive of the pleasures that persons take in siding with the mob.
Not exactly. I am only giving an excerpt relevant to the post to which I was replying. I recommend that you read the entire book from which it is an excerpt. (If you want, you can either start a thread with questions about the book as you read it, or you can PM me or send me emails about it. The edition at my link is a good one, which can also be purchased in print.) But also the passions of surprise and wonder (that you hid in your response) are independent of whether one is agreeing with the mob or not.
(September 10, 2015 at 10:21 pm)JuliaL Wrote: (the usual caveats and magical incantations to let me ignore solipsism and failed induction go here)
I want a model which accurately predicts results of actions taken.
At the moment, the best I have revolves around natural (of which artificial is a subset) selection among behaviors. It may be that this is only the hammer I have. It makes sense to me (unless I listen to Alex K in which case I slip into causal nihilism and nothing makes sense.)
The universe does not make sense. Just ask Uncle K about it and he will tell you this, though possibly in a roundabout way. That might depend on his mood at the time you ask him, how direct he will be. But show him this post if you ask him, as I will be interested in seeing what he has to say about my characterization of this. He is a pretty smart guy, so you should pay attention to what he says. When he tells you that he does not completely understand the universe, you will know that what I am saying is true. If it made sense, a smart guy like him would understand it all. (Disagree with me now, Uncle K, I dare you!)
(September 10, 2015 at 10:21 pm)JuliaL Wrote: We enjoy joining the mob because our forebears enjoyed doing so and the aggregation was more effective in our persistence and replication than going solo would have been.
I have a substantial background in biological sciences so my bias could be brainwashing too.
I do not know how to reply in a manner which some would not regard as rude. And my reply would not really be a disagreement with your comments about enjoying joining a mob.
"A wise man ... proportions his belief to the evidence."
— David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, Section X, Part I.
