Nope. Same definition. Definition one in particular. On Wed, 2005-02-02 at 19:00, Jeff Gibbons wrote: > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Steve Brust" <skzb at dreamcafe.com> > To: "Jeff Gibbons" <Log0n5150 at hotmail.com> > Cc: <dragaera at dragaera.info> > Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 2:43 PM > Subject: Re: Hello, I'd like to have an argument (was Re: duh!) > > > > On Wed, 2005-02-02 at 17:28, Jeff Gibbons wrote: > > > > > > Is society a bit too complex? Then lets turn to nature. When we > speak > > > > of "life" we refer to a body which assimilates matter into itself and > > > > then turns that matter *into* itself. In doing so it will replace all > > > > of it's atoms with other atoms. It is, thus, at any time, itself and > > > > not-itself. It is itself and something else. That's what life IS: > > > > contradiction. Resolve that with your thoughts. > > > > > > I can see how you arrived at that example, but in my opinion (there is > > > that phrase again) the body being made up of parts of "itself" and > > > "not-itself" is not inherantly a contradiction as I understand the word. > > > Change "life IS a contradiction" to "society is made up of > contradictions" > > > and I would agree. Life cannot contradict itself and exist. > > > > > > > I beg to differ. Life MUST contradict itself in order to exist. A > > living body is constantly dying and being reborn, adding cells to itself > > and sloughing off other cells. Death itself is a process (hence all the > > legal problems about exactly at what point in an orgamism "death" > > occurs. In the time that it has taken me to write this, some numbers of > > cells in my body have died; others have been created. Should this > > process stop, I would certainly be dead. > > > > > Not neccesarily, but you would be larger. I think that I am using a > different definition than you. . . > > Main Entry: con·tra·dic·tion > Pronunciation: "kän-tr&-'dik-sh&n > Function: noun > 1 : act or an instance of contradicting > 2 a : a proposition, statement, or phrase that asserts or implies both the > truth and falsity of something b : a statement or phrase whose parts > contradict each other <a round square is a contradiction in terms> > 3 a : logical incongruity b : a situation in which inherent factors, > actions, or propositions are inconsistent or contrary to one another > > I am using the second definition, you are using the third. > > > > > Would you care for one more unresolvable contradiction? This argument > > > > we are having is forcing me to examine my attitudes and beliefs as > part > > > > of the process of expressing my opinion in the most precise way I can. > > > > I am, in fact, learning from this argument, though I do not expect to > > > > convince you. This leaves you in the uncomfortable position of being > > > > unable to convince me of your argument except by admitting that I am > > > > right. > > > > > > > Unless, I am not trying to convince you, rather I am explaining to you > how I > > > arrived at my conclusion, and leave you with that knowledge to add to > your > > > ideas, and allow you do as you will with it. > > > > > > > In which case it is not an argument, it is the dispensing of > > information. Often of value, but not what we are discussing. > > > > But isn't an argument the assimilation of information from different > sources? Weither one accepts it or not is left to the individual, who > inevitably reaches his or her own conclusions, but may be swayed by the > validity of the information provided. > > > Jeff >