Quote:
Originally Posted by NotReady
The existence of red doesn't depend on it being perceived, though if you're a complete subjectivist you may argue so.
I'm talking about the
concept 'red'; not about red-colored objects. The latter would still exist if the human race was color-blind, but the former would not. (I'm not sure what objectivity/subjectivity has to do with this?)
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotReady
In which case, how is any communication possible?
Because our minds are, mostly, "like each other." We can communicate about 'red' because red-colored objects do the same sort of thing to both of our minds. Of course, if I go chat with Myra (who's color-blind) then I
can't communicate with her about 'red'. But that's exception, not the rule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotReady
You don't think the dictionary definition of design orients anyone's mind toward the world?
If I
already have concepts X, Y, and Z, then I can learn concept C = f(X, Y, Z) from a dictionary. But how did I learn my primitive concepts X, Y, and Z? Not from a dictionary! Let's go back to 'red.' Could a color-blind learn the concept 'red' from a dictionary? (Obviously not, I would think!)
Quote:
Originally Posted by NotReady
(I disagree with what's in your parentheses - concept is more than psychology. How would you define psychology, anyway?)
Let me re-paste that section:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Subfallen
The 'concept' of a symbol X is how X orients minds like ours toward the world. (An 'orientation' means a behavioral disposition, and may be described at a level ranging from intentional psychology to neurobiology.)
I'm saying that a concept is a mind-world relation. Specifically, a relation between something
in the world; and its orientation in
minds like ours.
The "something" can be a word, or a color, or a doorknob...whatever. The "orientation" isn't limited to the broad brush of psychology; it can be described to the detail of a fMRI, etc. (By 'intentional psychology', I mean the everyday language we use to talk about beliefs, moods, etc.. E.g., "Red wallpaper makes me unhappy!")
------------------------
Ok. To keep our bearings: this is why a dictionary definition is
not enough to show the meaning of a common-language concept like 'design'.
Notice that I
would accept a dictionary definition as a good starting point for 'xenophobic' or 'autochthonous.'
Last edited by Subfallen; 01-29-2009 at 03:37 AM.