[REBOL] Re: Sameness - an abstract approach.
From: lmecir:mbox:vol:cz at: 15-Feb-2003 8:35
Hi Gabriele,
> I think I have bored all the
> people here much enough. :-)
yes, it is likely, that *we* have bored. Nevertheless, there is something
principially wrong with your "paper metaphor". It shouldn't be left floating
around without an answer.
As concisely as I am able:
...
> it
> is like in my previous email when I gave you two
> "indistinguishable" pieces of paper not at the same time. They
> look the same piece of paper to you, because you have no mean to
> make a distinction (supposing you are not allowed to change them).
> But if I give them to you at the same time, even if you cannot
> discern a piece from the other you can say that you have two
> different pieces of paper (and the distinction is, for example,
> the hand that holds them --- one is on the left, the other in on
> the right).
If you gives me twice a piece of paper at different times, I may not be able
to say, that I received two pieces. IOW, I may not be able to discern two
pieces of paper. This is the correct part of your metaphor.
The incorrect part is, that you are saying, that if I find out, that two
papers are indiscernible (which means, that nobody can discern them), I am
in the same situation. Actually, I am not. I can sign a document, that you
gave me just one piece of paper, because it is not possible to hold one
piece in my right hand and the other in my left hand. If that were possible,
then even I would be able to discern the pieces, which wasn't the case.
Regards
-L
