[From Bill Williams 22 May 02 CST 17:18 ]
Today I looked for discussions concerned with Buridan and his ass. I didn't
find much in my initial search. However, the following statements from a book
on the turn of the 19th/20th century philosopher Henri Bergson may be of
interest. ( From _Bergson: Thinking Backwards_ 1996 by F.C.T. Moore Cambridge
UK: Cambridge University Press )
Section F. Intensive Magnitudes
(i) "The claim tht mental states do not vary in intensity." p. 43.
"... we must reject what appears to be the commonsense notion of a simple
capacity to recognize (at least comparatively) different intensitities in our
mental states when we experience them." p. 45.
"... it is a common assumption that desires have intensity. " p. 47.
"... what could it be to ignore their quailities in order to consider only
their magnitude? " p. 45.
As Moore explains it, Bergson as a consequence of rejecting the "commonplace"
notion that it is meaningful to think that comparisons can be made between
mental states, rejects the possiblity of constructing a theory of choice based
upon the comparison of the intensities of perceptions. As Moore argues this
rejection would have radical consequences for decision theory, cognitive
science and else where as well. One implication is a view that,
"The independence of biology vis-a-vis chemistry and physics would be deep,
rather than merely pragmatic." p. 119.
In the century that followed biology, however, became more closely integrated
with physics and chemistry ( the rise of molecular biology ) rather than more
issolated.
I personally find the conception that experience as a whole can be represented
simply in terms of frequences of "neural currents" somewhat difficult to
accept. But, what other viable alternative is in view?
Bill Williams
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