DM2572 Theme 1

Theme 1                                                                                     DM2572 Sara Langvik

1. Sense- data is a term Russell uses to quickly define things we experience through the use of our senses. This means the “thing” or “object” itself- not the experience or sensation of it. The sense- data is a rough cut of a wide grid that we can quantize objects etc. to, helping us clarify the definition of that object on a large note. Because of the fact that our sense of objects, entities and things differ, there cannot be a “one correct way” to describe an object to perfection. Therefore, using sense- data, this has to be done in order to communicate with each other under a common flag.

2. Proposition is basically a description of something. This something might have a proper name, which is the only thing that remains constant between people and different insight and opinion of this something. This means that the proposition of this something doesn’t take a stand in weather statements and interpretations of this something are true or false.

To modern educated people, it seems obvious that matters of fact are to be ascer­tained by observation, not by consulting ancient authorities. But this is an entirely modern conception, which hardly existed before the seventeenth century. Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives' mouths.
[Russell, Bertrand. The Impact of Science on Society. 1951.]

* reference: http://www.egs.edu/library/bertrand-russell/quotes

3. Our knowledge of things is basically split into two dimensions: “truths and judgments”. Our perception of truth is made up by common facts, or common knowledge, whereas judgment is a truth that we are acquainted with, such as people we know. Russell uses the following example to describe the difference:

[this is an interpretation of Russell’s message- NOT an actual quote]

People know the “man in the iron mask” existed. A description of him exists (in various forms) in a phrase of the form “so- and so”. However, we do not actually know ho he was. We can fill the blanks with propositions, like the most likely candidate for the title “man in the iron mask”. This candidate will, with certainty be an object with which we are acquainted with. Then, the proposition merely states that the candidate has the properties of the man in the iron mask and no one else does.

Russell introduces the terms: “Ambiguous description” and “Definite description”. The difference between these two are simply put the definitive article. In the ambiguous description the description can be less than defining, while in the definite description the description is defining.

He goes on to state some points to his theories of truth, falsehood and matter. As a first statement, he insists that a truth must, like any matter, have an anti-truth, in this case- falsehood. But since truths and falsehoods are established from belief, subjectivity and statement, they are not mere matter.
In a world of mere matter there would exist no truth and no falsehood, as these are irrelevant in an objective world.
These two worlds could not coexist in perfection, but our knowledge of things, weather they be beliefs or know-how, are based on a fusion of these two worlds.

4. Traditional knowledge, things we “know” or “learn” are things that translate from a statement through our interpretation of that statement, into our own opinions. This can be compared to the conversion between analogue and digital.

In one example Russell talks about the use of text to distribute information. When reading a text, we, who are literate, quickly embrace the meaning of the formed words into our interpretation of what was written. However, an illiterate person looks at the shape of the text and might see symbols. The text in itself is therefore not a statement, but we form our own statement through the interpretation of the text. In many cases, we might then believe that we now have learned a truth, a fact, when we have actually just established a belief, since looking at the text, the symbols, is much like looking at a painting or perceptual illusions.

Knowledge about things can be by proposition or by acquaintance. One does not rule out the other, however, it does not mean that both are needed. He proceeds to give an example of how he is acquainted with his own toothache, ant even though his dentist is not, he still proceeds to know more about the nature of it than the patient himself.

Personal statement:

It is, since we are human beings communicating with human beings, important to remember the limits to human perception and psychology.
The factuality is of lesser importance if we do not understand the facts- since facts are, after all, only made up by us who interpret them.