Phenomena and facts

CSGnet Archive CSG1998
1

[From Bruce Abbott (980127.1330 EST)]

Bruce Gregory (980127.0648 EST) --

Behavior applies to individuals. Phenomena apply to aggregates. Artifacts are
erroneous conclusions about individuals made on the basis of studies of
aggregates.

Phenomena apply to aggregrates? An itch is a phenomenon, and I rather doubt
you'd want to defend the notion that an itch applies only to groups of
people (aggregrates). Lightning and thunder are phenomena, but do not arise
as artifacts of an averaging process. Phenomena _can_ apply to aggregrates,
but does apply to individuals as well.

And speaking of phenomena, I find the lack of any response to my post
concerning perceptual frames of reference [Bruce Abbott (970126.0940 EST)]
an interesting one for a group that claims to be interested in the control
of perception.

Regards,

Bruce

2

[From Bruce Gregory (980127.1435 EST)]

Bruce Abbott (980127.1330 EST)

And speaking of phenomena, I find the lack of any response to my post
concerning perceptual frames of reference [Bruce Abbott (970126.0940 EST)]
an interesting one for a group that claims to be interested in the control
of perception.

What sort of response were you expecting? I found the post
interesting, but it did not seem to cry out for a comment.

Bruce

3

[From Bill Powers (980127.1454 MST)]

And speaking of phenomena, I find the lack of any response to my post
concerning perceptual frames of reference [Bruce Abbott (970126.0940 EST)]
an interesting one for a group that claims to be interested in the control
of perception.

I did reply to it, acknowledging your summary of the Helmholz illusions and
discussion a few more, plus some demos of my own. Did this post fail to
reach you?

Best,

Bill P.

4

i.kurtzer (970127)

[From Bruce Abbott (980127.1330 EST)]

Bruce Gregory (980127.0648 EST) --

Behavior applies to individuals. Phenomena apply to aggregates. Artifacts

are

erroneous conclusions about individuals made on the basis of studies of
aggregates.

Phenomena apply to aggregrates? An itch is a phenomenon, and I rather doubt
you'd want to defend the notion that an itch applies only to groups of
people (aggregrates).

_An_ itch is a phenomena, or the more platonic "itching" is a phenomena? If
either, what makes this a phenomena rather than a paltry fact?

i.