File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_2002/bhaskar.0201, message 20


Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 03:58:21 +0000
From: Mervyn Hartwig <mh-AT-jaspere.demon.co.uk>
Subject: BHA: Bad infinite, true infinite


Hi Phil

A more topical and I think readily graspable example of the theoretical
and practical aspects of a bad infinite can be seen in the current "Yee-
ha! Le'ts round up a posse and go get'em" approach to terrorism, which
arguably contributes to the causes of terrorism rather than resolving
them such that 10 new bin Laden's arise for every one (!) that they
catch. One can only opt out of such a bad infinite by addressing the
social causes. To do this you need a good theory which explains what the
causes are (adjusting our beliefs to the world), and then you need to
put it into practice to transform previous theories and the social
structures grounding the causes (adjusting the world to our will) - the
coherence of theory and practice in practice. And then you're into the
virtuous circle of a true infinite.

Mervyn
-- 
Mervyn Hartwig
13 Spenser Road
Herne Hill
London SE24 ONS
United Kingdom
Tel: 020 7 737 2892
Email: mh-AT-jaspere.demon.co.uk


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