Deduction (steping on previous truths and making an inference) is the only way to be certain of a proposition. But certainty is not the same as knowledge.
Induction, on the other hand, is the proposal of a general principle, based on the regularity of a some observations.
Deduction (the use of logic) makes me very certain, but adds very little knowledge to me: the deducted truth is already into the previous ones (the premises).
Induction let me jump on completely new truths. But, who can guarantee that “swans are white” just because all that I have seen, happen to be white? Induction gives me joy of novelty, but, seldom, the comfort of certainty.
The moral of this story is: knowledge, as any human growth operation (like love, or virtue) can on be achieved “dialectically”, zigzaging between opposites. Forget about finding an optimun.
Wealth is organizing matter
/in Bullets, Economics /by Bobby A LopezWealth is organizing matter Creating wealth is to overcome entropy by organizing things. This process always requires the consumption of energy.
Western is logic
/in Bullets, Epistemology /by Bobby A LopezWestern is logic Eastern civilizations (China, India, Iran) did not discover early the 2 great axioms of reason (non contradiction; identity) thus could not think as far as the West
We are all messiahs
/in Bullets, Religion /by Bobby A LopezWe are all messiahs Many people are shocked when learning that Socrates thought of himself as a gift from heaven. They shouldn’t: each of us is a heavenly gift
Man against human specie
/in Anthropology, Bullets /by Bobby A LopezWays the man can go against its own specie: warfare; destroying his environment; choosing not to reproduce
Voluntarismo es engañarse
/in Bullets, Epistemology, Philosophy /by Bobby A LopezVoluntarismo es engañarse El peor invento del segundo milenio: voluntarismo: creer que la parte del espíritu que conecta más a lo real es la voluntad; no la razón.
Wars of religion never existed
/in Bullets, History, History of Ideas, Religion /by Bobby A LopezWars of religion never existed Wars of religion are wars of politics where the label to differentiate the parties is religious.
Vocación es más estar que hacer
/in Bullets, Religion /by Bobby A LopezVocación es más estar que hacer. Hay individuos en el cuerpo humano que hacen su función estando muertos (células del pelo; las uñas). Vivir la vocación es estar en su sitio.
Vida interior es recomenzar
/in Bullets, Religion /by Bobby A LopezVida interior es recomenzar No es que en la vida interior “haga falta” recomenzar muchas veces. Es que la vida interior “es” (consiste en) recomenzar.
Two sources of Wealth
/in Bullets, Economics /by Bobby A LopezIn economics textbooks there are three sources of wealth: land; work and capital. But they are actually two: energy and information
Should we look for knowledge or certainty
/in Bullets /by Bobby A LopezDeduction (steping on previous truths and making an inference) is the only way to be certain of a proposition. But certainty is not the same as knowledge.
Induction, on the other hand, is the proposal of a general principle, based on the regularity of a some observations.
Deduction (the use of logic) makes me very certain, but adds very little knowledge to me: the deducted truth is already into the previous ones (the premises).
Induction let me jump on completely new truths. But, who can guarantee that “swans are white” just because all that I have seen, happen to be white? Induction gives me joy of novelty, but, seldom, the comfort of certainty.
The moral of this story is: knowledge, as any human growth operation (like love, or virtue) can on be achieved “dialectically”, zigzaging between opposites. Forget about finding an optimun.