jordanz

BTW - here's Will Thomas on the issue: http://www.objectivistcenter.org/cth--1254...Perception.aspx

You are stealing the concept of sight. The image in your cortext is what it means to see.

I didn't say our sense are perfect nor did I imply that our sense can perceive everything. But, what they do sense, they sense directly.

I don't believe that it does not limit what we can know - but that's another topic. This is incorrect. In fact, we experience the world directly. A photon of light enters the pupil makes its way to the optic nerve resulting in a stimulus in the brain. Where's the indirection? It's as direct as if I push a pencil and it moves.

The limits to our senses are immaterial. Our senses react to reality in predictable way. There is no magic - the senses work according to their nature. Given a stimulus, a given sense will act accordingly. That's how we gain knowledge of objective reality. Anyway, David Kelley explains this much better than I can.

It's been years since I read it, but the book Flatland deals with this subject in a fun way. The main character, as I recall, lives in a two dimensional world and encounters a being that claims to be from a new third dimension. The three dimensional character describes the 2D character's insides because he can see inside of him, etc. and eventually convinces him of a 3rd dimension. The main point here is that we have senses. Our senses react to the world as it is and give us objective information about reality. With our senses we can discover everything about reality. If some being claims to possess a previously unknown sense he should be able to prove it by the usual means of evidence, deduction and induction.

It's part of the Evidence of the Senses series, but I don't remember which tape. Maybe it's in the book?

Isn't this, essentially, the brain in a vat argument? I'm not technical enough to write a response, but David Kelley has a tape that addresses it. In this particular case, I believe that blind people have some "internal" sight - i.e. they dream (unless blind from birth). The point is that they can form the concept sight. Once that's done, it's just a matter of deduction to give them enough evidence that you can see even though they can't.

Wonderful. Jeff is one of a kind.

It's the sound of his fingers moving against the strings.

I wish I could go. I had booked a spot but something came up and I can't go. It looks to be really great.

Wow - how different history would have been. Bush I, IMO, was one of the worst Presidents in our history. Bush I begat Bush II who, while he had a good foreign policy, was a disaster.

Monterey, CA montereycoteaparty.blogspot.com for more info....it's on April 15th from 5:00 p.m - 6:30 pm. in Monterey at Window On The Bay park located on Del Monte Ave....across from Lake El Estero....

This seems like a positive change. I like Ed a lot, but for a few years now I've felt that David was not involved enough in TAS. I sent a long email to stating this last year. I was very impressed with the last issue of TNI. Let's hope it continues.

Agreed. Coincidentally, I'm at this moment watching Fox Business where they're saying exactly the same thing. Pointing the finger (correctly) at Franklin Raines, et al.

"The novel ... may not be great literature." God damn it. Why do people always do that. Oh yes Mr. Andrews; we would never suspect you of enjoying that piece of garbage.

Thanks for the tip! My Tivo is now scheduled.

Wonderful news Chris!!!

Oh No Ed. That's terrible news. Rita and I are so sorry.

One of my favorite movies. Excellent theme contrasting a man of the mind against the irrational. David Mamet at his best.

I did. I hated Wall-E.

This is very exciting. I plan on going.

Thank you Barbara. Maybe I'll have a dram or two of whisky and peruse this swamp. ;)

Very interesting - thank you. As usual, follow the money.

Barbara, if you don't object, I'd appreciate hearing what you know about the Reisman's split from ARI. I've enjoyed George Resiman's work but don't know much about him or his relationship to Ayn Rand, ARI, TAS, etc.