Comments on: Is that possible? http://oscarbonilla.com/2008/12/is-that-possible/ Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:01:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: ob http://oscarbonilla.com/2008/12/is-that-possible/comment-page-1/#comment-14797 ob Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:23:34 +0000 http://blog.oscarbonilla.com/?p=95#comment-14797 Agreed on the different kinds of logic... they are useful for different purposes, but in the context of our immediate reality, the classical two-value logic is what makes the most sense. I.e. non-euclidean geometries might be useful, but we are living in a mostly euclidean world, so for everyday interactions euclidean logic works best. In the same way, Newtonian physics are much more useful for everyday interactions than quantum mechanics. I'm just trying to be pragmatic. On to the second point. Thank you for the pointers to the stories! I thoroughly enjoyed them. I see no contradictions in the stories as long as you are willing to give up determinism and free will. I was trying to put together a more detail description, but then today I bumped into this article: http://discovermagazine.com/2010/mar/02-the-real-rules-for-time-travelers/ which eloquently expresses my point of view. Agreed on the different kinds of logic… they are useful for different purposes, but in the context of our immediate reality, the classical two-value logic is what makes the most sense. I.e. non-euclidean geometries might be useful, but we are living in a mostly euclidean world, so for everyday interactions euclidean logic works best. In the same way, Newtonian physics are much more useful for everyday interactions than quantum mechanics. I’m just trying to be pragmatic.

On to the second point. Thank you for the pointers to the stories! I thoroughly enjoyed them. I see no contradictions in the stories as long as you are willing to give up determinism and free will. I was trying to put together a more detail description, but then today I bumped into this article: http://discovermagazine.com/2010/mar/02-the-real-rules-for-time-travelers/ which eloquently expresses my point of view.

]]> By: Keith Braithwaite http://oscarbonilla.com/2008/12/is-that-possible/comment-page-1/#comment-13516 Keith Braithwaite Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:17:43 +0000 http://blog.oscarbonilla.com/?p=95#comment-13516 So, two thoughts: Firstly, there are perfectly reasonable, and very useful, families of logic that deny non-contradiction or the excluded middle. Some commentators try to claim that these are (therefore) "not logic" I don't think this is true any more than that those geometries which abandon the Parallel Postulate are "not geometry" Secondly, I would be interested to know what contradictions are present in Robert Henlein's two time travel stories "By his bootstraps" and "All you zombies" neither of which includes a parallel universe. So, two thoughts: Firstly, there are perfectly reasonable, and very useful, families of logic that deny non-contradiction or the excluded middle. Some commentators try to claim that these are (therefore) “not logic” I don’t think this is true any more than that those geometries which abandon the Parallel Postulate are “not geometry”

Secondly, I would be interested to know what contradictions are present in Robert Henlein’s two time travel stories “By his bootstraps” and “All you zombies” neither of which includes a parallel universe.

]]> By: Philip Brocoum http://oscarbonilla.com/2008/12/is-that-possible/comment-page-1/#comment-11698 Philip Brocoum Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:30:40 +0000 http://blog.oscarbonilla.com/?p=95#comment-11698 Excellent post. It's important for people to understand that there are different levels of certainty. Even if one cannot be 100% certain, you can get pretty close and that's no reason not to believe in something. I was recently thinking the other day that I hate the word "possible". People love to use that to win any argument. For example, religious people often say, "But don't you admit that it's at least POSSIBLE that God exists?" And then I have to respond, "Yes, it's possible, anything is possible." What choice do I have? And then the religious person takes my answer as a "win". It's so annoying! Excellent post. It’s important for people to understand that there are different levels of certainty. Even if one cannot be 100% certain, you can get pretty close and that’s no reason not to believe in something.

I was recently thinking the other day that I hate the word “possible”. People love to use that to win any argument. For example, religious people often say, “But don’t you admit that it’s at least POSSIBLE that God exists?” And then I have to respond, “Yes, it’s possible, anything is possible.” What choice do I have? And then the religious person takes my answer as a “win”. It’s so annoying!

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