Posted by Jost on October 6, 2006, at 23:44:57
In reply to Re: reasons that sound identical, but aren't, posted by alexandra_k on October 6, 2006, at 21:11:05
The problem may be that symbolic or mathematical logic doesn't apply perfectly in the realm of ordinary talk, because people aren't arguing in philosophically rigorous ways.
They're using language rather imprecisely, vaguely, and without developing overarching theories of how latter uses of concepts modify prior uses.
So my explanation of not liking pickles may be 'pickles are sour":
When sour cherry pies come along-- you may say I can't like them because I don't like sour things.
I might, to provide some logical consistency, have to go back and say, I don't like pickles because I don't like things that are sour, and have no sweetness.
Of course, I also hate sweet pickles. They may be sweet and sour. And I definitely don't like Sweet and Sour Pork-- esp. the sauce.
At that point I may again, in fact, have to refine further my definition of how sweetness and sourness can in fact be understood so as to rationalize my claims. This can be an endless process of the evolution of a complex set of beliefs.
My general point is that each case causes me to redefine terms, qualifying my explanation, and distinguishing different combinations of tastes, from others.
You might think, then, that whoever disliked small groups in the previous context, may be considering other factors now, as primary, when thinking about the small group. Therefore, the different assessment. But that person isn't necessarily going to go back and restate the earlier position so as made both ideas mutually compatible. Doesn't mean it couldn't be done, though. I think it could.
You don't, because to you, this new situation doesn't seem to require-or produce--a new context.
Can I ask, though, do you think there is an explanation that someone could believe that would make this small group okay, even if the other small group didn't seem okay to them?
Because I perhaps mistakenly thought you said you thought you did understand that. But if you do, doesn't this become a case where your reaction is just different from the other person's-- and the circle can't be squared, in that sense?
Jost
poster:Jost
thread:690598
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20060918/msgs/692580.html