Re: virus: accurate statements vs The Absolute Truth

KMO (kmo@halcyon.com)
Sun, 03 Nov 1996 18:22:04 -0800


David McFadzean wrote:

>
> KMO recently defined it [Absolute Truth] quite rigorously as the >
conjunction of
> all possible true statements (I think, correct me if I'm wrong).

Your definition might be functionally equivalent to mine; I'm not sure
about that. I have yet to think it out. The definition for Absolute
Truth which I had offered was that of a set of propostions (or one long
compound proposition) that described the universe in an ideal fashion.
Ideal here would mean in a way that could not be refined or improved
upon. Because words are not the things they describe, we'd need some
criteria for determining the fit between a set of propostions and their
subject. I take that fit to be measured in terms of explanatory and
predictive utility. What other criteria might we use to
measure/determine the accuracy of a set of propostions? That question
is not rhetorical.

Take care. -KMO