File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_1997/97-01-11.090, message 79


From: "Tobin Nellhaus" <nellhaus-AT-gwi.net>
Subject: BHA: Re: idtd
Date: Thu, 9 Jan 1997 11:09:54 -0500


Hi Howard--

Sorry, I can't follow you in converting the TD/ID distinction into a
material/conceptual and causal/noncausal distinction.  The transitive ideas
of science are still causally efficacious.  I suspect some material things
can be considered transitive, if they are (in RB's phrase) "techniques of
inquiry" (technologies are based on ideas: the telescope was developed via
the theory of optics, astrological charts on the theory of planetary
influences).

> Suppose I build improve and refashion the telescope.  Is the
> telescope I supercede transitive?

In the sense that an astronomer can disuse the old-model telescope and adopt
the new one in order to conduct research, why not?  If "transitive" means
anything in RB's analysis, surely it must include the possibility of changing
the techniques/technologies of inquiry.

At the same time, let's not dismiss the value of "tinkering with the
equipment" in the history of scientific discovery.  If I remember right,
something along those lines led to the discovery of (how to produce) X-rays. 
So the technology again appears transitive.

Others...:

Marshall: I have no objection to the notion of extrapolating from causal
tendencies (as presently known, of course) in order to plan for or anticipate
the future.  Can't avoid it: I extrapolate from my car's tendency to operate
in order to plan grocery shopping.  But of course we're extrapolating from
the *past*, knowing full well all sorts of things may intervene; and so in
large-scale anticipations (like city planning), presumably one tries to
anticipate the unanticipated as well, again drawing from the *past* some
ideas of how things can go awry.

David and Colin: okay, I can go along that the TD/ID distinction isn't
*simply* temporal.  Parts of the past are clearly part of present-day
inquiry.  Regarding Dr F's scientific practice, yes, I'd meant to write that
mirco-organisms were intransitive to Old Vic's mad schemes.

Re David's recipe, to paraphrase Howard's quotation from Bhaskar: "The
material cause, in this sense, of David's recipe for Spam Extract consisted
of the ingredients out of which he fashioned his curious brew."  All I can
say is, I'm glad I'm a veggie.  

---
Tobin Nellhaus
nellhaus-AT-gwi.net
"Faith requires us to be materialists without flinching": C.S. Peirce



     --- from list bhaskar-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---


   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005