Targovi, the spy, must copy data from a Merseian computer although he does not know Eriau. However, he has picked up some words and phrases and has learned the alphabet. Further, Merseia acquired computer technology from Terra. Finally:
"...logic and natural law are the same everywhere." (p. 413)
He figures out an elementary instruction, tells the computer to microcopy everything and is given three discs. I would not have been able to do that, maybe not even with an unfamiliar computer that used English.
I agree that logic is the same everywhere but have had appalling arguments with people who did not understand "logic." Star Trek has a lot to answer for because one acquaintance seemed to have got his idea of logic from Mr. Spock. He also thought that The Lion King was "illogical" because it involved talking animals, i.e., "logic" is merely the familiar or the expected. In fact, talking animals are merely a counterfactual premise. If animals could talk, then it would logically follow that they could have conversations.
Another guy thought that there could be a parallel universe where logic did not work, i.e., where a proposition could be both true and untrue at the same time. Since logic is merely the kind of consistency between propositions without which we would not succeed in saying anything, the proposition that such a universe might exist does not succeed as a proposition.
7 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I think we would all be better off if schools went back to the study of logic, as was done in Classical and Medieval times! Bringing back some form of the Trivium and Quadrivium might be a good idea. With modern adaptations, of course. Such a system might prevent or counteract some of the irrationality and lunacy of our times. To say nothing of some people STILL believing in superstitions like astrology and the enneagram!
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
Astrologers have been able to say things that were true. Astrology, like spiritualism, is on my list of phenomena that need to be investigated without prejudice.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But astrology has been debunked so many times! Starting as long as St. Augustine's refutation of it in his CONFESSIONS. Astrology can sometimes be "right" only in the sense that a stopped clock is right twice a day. I can't take astrology seriously.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
And how Augustine debunk it?
An astrologer friend predicted that I would have a particular kind of problem in a particular time period and I did.
Eysenck found an above average correlation between certain people's horoscopes and their personalities. This means further research needed.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I am writing from memory. What I recollect was St. Augustine discussing how two landowners who believed in astrology kept careful records about everybody on their estates, including even when dogs were born, and then casting horoscopes for them using astrology. And their predictions did not come true!
I would still put down what happened to you to pure chance or the stopped clock example. And I can imagine some astrologers simply having a shrewd understanding of people and being able to reasonably "predict" what might happen to them.
Ad astra! Sean
There's a Roman joke (recorded in writing) about an astronomer casting a horoscope for a wealthy man who's very ill.
He comes up with: "you will live a long life, and die very old."
The wealthy man says: "Wonderful news! I will pay you tomorrow."
The astrologer blurts out: "But what if you die tonight?"
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
Ha, ha!!! Very amusing, and to the POINT! I remain totally unconvinced by astrology.
Ad astra! Sean
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