Re: teleology and language

From: Grant Callaghan (grantc4@hotmail.com)
Date: Wed May 01 2002 - 22:33:44 BST

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From: "Grant Callaghan" <grantc4@hotmail.com>
To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Subject: Re: teleology and language
Date: Wed, 01 May 2002 14:33:44 -0700
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    >To: <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
    >Subject: Re: teleology and language
    >Date: Wed, 1 May 2002 09:18:34 -0700
    >
    >Wade:
    > > >Counterpoint to your specific examples: just try to prove Fermat's last
    > > >theorem by using Greek mathematics. :)
    >
    >Grant:
    > > Try using ancient Greek to tell someone how to build a 747 or a
    >computer.
    > > Try using it to discuss genetics or modern cosmology. How about a
    >lecture
    > > on quantum mechanics? Walt Whitman's language was suitable for his time
    >and
    > > culture. You couldn't restrict yourself to it and do much of anything
    >in
    > > any field but literature today.
    >
    >Good point, but even modern English has its own limits.
    >When I studied physics I learned that English, or any other spoken language
    >for that matter,
    >in rather ill-suited to use in describing quantum mechanical dynamics.
    >The reason being that English is based on a classical
    >interpretation of the world.
    >
    >Phil.
    >
    Suitability is relative. No language is perfect for the job, but some
    languages are more suitable than others.

    Grant

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