RE: virus: Rationality

Richard Brodie (RBrodie@brodietech.com)
Thu, 27 Feb 1997 16:37:24 -0800


David McF wrote:

>I was suggesting that logic is a law
>of the universe more fundamental than even the physical laws because
>I found it easier to imagine a universe with a different set of
>physical
>laws than different logical laws. Admittedly this isn't very compelling
>
>evidence.

The "argument from personal incredulity" is never a big winner with me.

Rather than call things "laws of the universe," why not use Dennett's
"good tricks" terminology? In other words, there are certain
furmulations that naturally occur because they are efficient ways of
doing things. Logic would seem to be one of these in the memetics world.
> How can you bypass the effect
>of logic? According to my aforementioned intuition, it would be easier
>to bypass laws of physics. Here's a biblical allusion I don't get to
>use very often: you can't break the law, you can only break yourself
>against the law.

What "effects" does logic have? Logic is a description, not a force. I
>don't get it.