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The Pro-Diversity in Trek Lit thread

At risk of being overly assertive, I suggest that scientific experience does not adequately connect with only one theory. Theory is underdetermined by scientific experimentalism. Therefore, multiple sciences are possible and dynamic.

You seem to be using a different definition of the term "theory" than is found in the scientific process.

More to the point, you're busy musing about the philosophical question of how to contextualize information gathered through the scientific process; nothing that you've said has even remotely addressed the scientific process's empirical foundations, nor the empirical nature of the information it gathers. You're too busy worrying about what to do with the information to actually understand what the scientific process is.
 
As for being a 'fundamentalist' Christian, I would indicate that 'Christ' means anointed one and 'Christian' means a little Christ.

That's incorrect. The suffix -ian is a variant of -an, which is from an adjective suffix in Latin. It doesn't mean "little," it just turns a noun into an adjective. So "Christian" means "of or pertaining to Christ," and as a noun it means someone whose beliefs or affiliations pertain to Christ, i.e. a follower of Christ's teachings.


At risk of being overly assertive, I suggest that scientific experience does not adequately connect with only one theory. Theory is underdetermined by scientific experimentalism. Therefore, multiple sciences are possible and dynamic.

Of course science isn't monolithic. Science isn't about asserting one unshakeable truth; on the contrary. It's about observing the evidence and formulating conclusions based on it. A theory, of which there are many in science, is a model that codifies a set of observations and experimental results and offers an explanation of the underlying processes that cause them, thereby allowing testable predictions beyond the existing evidence. If new evidence matches those predictions, it supports the theory's validity as a predictive and explanatory tool, whereas if the evidence consistently conflicts with the predictions, it demonstrates that the theory is flawed and needs to be refined or discarded in favor of a new theory.

So your statement "Theory is underdetermined by scientific experimentalism" is gibberish. Theory and experiment are fundamentally intertwined, two interdependent facets of the same scientific process. Experimental results shape theories which propose new experiments whose results refine theories and lead to new experiments... etc.
 
First of all, according to Berger & Luckmann, in "The Social Construction of Reality," there are at least four kinds of symbolic universes which map on to our universe: mythology, philosophy, theology, and science. I am focusing on science.

The 'underlying processes' that we wish to explain using a code system can always map onto multiple codes. Perhaps we can hope for various kinds of mathematics to be proven to be identities. The underlying processes are a very deep structure. The observations map on to the deep structure. The theories map on to the observations. The predictions map on to the theories. True, there is interdependence; but, there are many things missed in the net.

Theories are social constructs. If it is not monolithic, then it must be plural. It is not just that science has a multiple of theories -- every theory has multiples of alternative hypotheses and sets of hypotheses. Alternative theories.

In the construction of the human subject, this universe may be necessarily multi-theoretical. Perhaps so too for the physical universe, especially at the scales of very large and very small.

Finally, though the heliocentric theory is by and large the best current theory for motion in our solar system. This does not eliminate the geocentric theory if you wish to use a more complicated mathematics. True parsimony usually applies here; but, we cannot rule out discarded theories altogether. Discarded theories could be redeveloped at a later date, perhaps for the baby which was discarded with the bathwater so to speak. Unknown theories are at least as unlimited as the human imagination.

I am trying not to speak gibberish. I am also trying to avoid self-indulgent crap and pretentious gobbledygook too. Perhaps one day I shall succeed.

Systematically examining the 'propositional calculus' for each group of theories could allow for many alternate theories. The 'universal' 'law' of gravitation seems to be the most accepted 'theory'. We assume that if it were superseded, then there would be an even more universal law. Perhaps a unified field theory of sorts. But, the later theories do not need to progress. Multiple unified field theories may be possible too. Does this have to be a contradiction in terms?

Does science, by definition, have to be 'conclusive' and rule out differential diagnoses for its subjects? There are few conclusions to the 'bustling confusion' that is commonly experienced. Is it such a bad thing to entertain multiple theories for the same experiences?
 
So "Christian" means "of or pertaining to Christ," and as a noun it means someone whose beliefs or affiliations pertain to Christ, i.e. a follower of Christ's teachings.

In theory, yes. If only it were actually true in practise. But it seems the people who proclaim their Christianity the loudest are always the ones who follow his teachings the least.

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Almost a third of the way through "The Red King" by Martin & Mangels and appreciating it immensely. Assertiveness and protesting too much can be separated. And, I know, I often do not take the wonderfully doctrinally pure sides of many disciplines. And, I like etymology much too.
 
it's a New Frontier reference, not a slight on the Shi'ites. the Hermats tried to combine all 3 human pronouns into one, She, he and it. becoming shiite. which made humans laugh a lot - the implication being it sounds like someone saying 'sheee-it', a drawn out version of shit.
 
it's a New Frontier reference, not a slight on the Shi'ites. the Hermats tried to combine all 3 human pronouns into one, She, he and it. becoming shiite. which made humans laugh a lot - the implication being it sounds like someone saying 'sheee-it', a drawn out version of shit.

Aha, someone beat me to it I'm afraid. They also beat me to her but that's another story. She plus it goes way back... to...to, to a time before Muslims probably which as we know stands for Mirror universe slime. That you. :guffaw:
 
About diversity: I am reminded of a story perhaps told by Bertrand Russell. He was giving a lecture wherein he presented the concept of "solipsism." After the lecture a woman spoke with him and happily suggested that everyone should believe in that.

I guess "diversity" may be an optimization problem based upon cognitive capacity and cognitive complexity. Is it a simple load & capacity issue?

I was evil yesterday: I saw and purchased a new copy of the trade paperback "The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing" by Michael A. Martin at my local book megastore for $4.99 when regular price was $21.00. I hope I am not destroying diversity. Actually, it was worse: members' 10% discount too.
 
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Also about diversity: When I was in high school, we read some of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" and learned about the 'Oxford Scholar' character who chose to be poor so that he could have expensive books to study. Later, in university, I had a brief discussion with a prof about diversity and suggested that 'poverty' be a diversity issue. He wondered who would ever choose to be poor.

Could the Star Trek universe have people who choose to be poor although perhaps for very good reasons? Even in a cashless society how people spend their time as a resource does matter. Could one technology be developed at the sacrifice of another? It must happen in the Star Trek books a number of times.

Do "status variables" matter as determined by whether they are ascriptive or achieved? Is achieved status treated differently from ascribed status? I guess so but how does it pan out in Star Trek diversity? I guess I must read on to find out.

Finished "The Red King" by Mangels & Martin and am now reading "Orion's Hounds" by Bennett. Oh good! More diversity.
 
MU could also stand for moo or mmn, you! I was thinking about the word ave today too - a ve - from a? a V? Avenue - Heaven? It's all very interesting backwards and forwards as in move too. Or Moonves - move away.
 
As I said, reading "On Liberty" is useful for people in forums. However, I just read "On Bullshit" by Harry Frankfurt which is apparently popular in some Washington circles where rationality is respected. I have considered the criteria for good scientific theories and 'underdeterminism' is still a concern of mine as is truthhood. Is it possible to go one better and have diversity of sciences while limiting bullshit? I seriously do not believe this need be nonsense. Perhaps it is best limited to the realms of SF with science proper being the peer reviewed professionalism that seems so acceptable to the 'disciplinary matrix'. I was told that truth without love is brutality. This must be avoided too.
 
The program in my computer that translates gibberish into the Queen's English is off-line apparently.


:)
 
I was evil yesterday: I saw and purchased a new copy of the trade paperback "The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing" by Michael A. Martin at my local book megastore for $4.99 when regular price was $21.00. I hope I am not destroying diversity. Actually, it was worse: members' 10% discount too.

They have the Star Trek movie book on for $4.99 too. Bought 'em both while looking for Plagues of Night. :guffaw:
 
I was evil yesterday: I saw and purchased a new copy of the trade paperback "The Romulan War: Beneath the Raptor's Wing" by Michael A. Martin at my local book megastore for $4.99 when regular price was $21.00. I hope I am not destroying diversity. Actually, it was worse: members' 10% discount too.

Good shopping!
 
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