Subj : Re: Just Checking :-)
To   : Lee Lofaso
From : John Wilson
Date : Fri Aug 03 2001 06:59 pm

-=> LEE LOFASO wrote to FRANK MASINGILL <=-


 LL> ...Come up with a
 LL> space alien that is total original thought.

   A little off this topic, but on reading these words immeadiatly
   flashed on my memory a wonderful Sci-fi novel in the '40s
   called "Slan" By A.E. van Vogt. That was an amazing attempt
   to do just what you describe. The author tried to follow the
   thought processes of an alien mind...
   

   Can you do it?  Can
 LL> anybody else do it?  I don't think so.  All thoughts we have are
 LL> based on our own experiences, and if one has never had experience
 LL> meeting or seeing space aliens, then how can any total original
 LL> thought be considered "valid"?

 I, of course am not arguing aginst your valid point. I believe there is
 a great deal in this universe unavailable for comprehension by
 human minds.

 LL> We can only express ourselves based on our own experiences.  To
 LL> express ourselves to others, we must use means of which others
 LL> can understand us, since others can only grasp things based on
 LL> their own experiences.

 Harder to do than just having the desire to do so. An axiom of
 General Semantics: No word ever means exactly the same thing twice.

 A lingusit extention, I think, of Buddha's : All things are forever in a
 state of flux.


 LL> We must take refuge in Doubt, since any firm belief is
 LL> presumption.

 Yes. I am absolutly certain that you are correct. Descarte, y'know, worked
 Doubt down to everything but the fact that he was the doubter. :-)

 Cheers!


.... We're only immortal for a limited time.
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