Comments on: The Portable Plato http://circuitbeta.com/blog/2007/03/21/the-portable-plato/ Out of My Head and into Yours Sat, 19 May 2012 20:47:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: circuitbeta http://circuitbeta.com/blog/2007/03/21/the-portable-plato/#comment-3 circuitbeta Fri, 23 Mar 2007 07:01:04 +0000 http://circuitbeta.com/blog/2007/03/21/the-portable-plato/#comment-3 If you could get into someone else's mind in such a way would you want too? Your last question comes back to common ground (building blocks). If we do not share enough of it, how can we communicate effectively. Its something that Socrates touched upon in the Phaedo. He believed that once the soul was free from the body it would be released from the constraints put upon it and be able to attain knowledge that was previously unreachable. As if the soul could possess and learn knowledge, as if it could live with out the body. You bring up good points and I'm left thinking that it is more than understanding that I am looking for. I do not read things to just understand them, if that were so I would be happy reading fiction, I would understand that the sun is made of lollipops and never have a need to believe it at all. But this is not the case. If you could get into someone else’s mind in such a way would you want too?

Your last question comes back to common ground (building blocks). If we do not share enough of it, how can we communicate effectively. Its something that Socrates touched upon in the Phaedo. He believed that once the soul was free from the body it would be released from the constraints put upon it and be able to attain knowledge that was previously unreachable. As if the soul could possess and learn knowledge, as if it could live with out the body.

You bring up good points and I’m left thinking that it is more than understanding that I am looking for. I do not read things to just understand them, if that were so I would be happy reading fiction, I would understand that the sun is made of lollipops and never have a need to believe it at all. But this is not the case.

]]> By: meltown http://circuitbeta.com/blog/2007/03/21/the-portable-plato/#comment-2 meltown Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:18:59 +0000 http://circuitbeta.com/blog/2007/03/21/the-portable-plato/#comment-2 What an interesting question to ponder... By Wiki definition: Understanding is a psychological state in relation to an object or person whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to be able to deal adequately with that object. By this definition I think the phrasing "deal adequately with that object" gives the leniency to not have to believe what you're hearing to imagine it or relate to it in some manner. If you know what a lollipop is, you can certainly *imagine* the sun being made out of lollipops, which allows you to "deal adequately with that object". I think it's different when you're talking about a person's feelings or interpretations though. How can you understand someone's belief that the sun is made of lollipops if you cannot believe it? I see it as though you can understand the concept, but not understand that person's feelings behind it. But then I read it again and interpret your question differently... How can I possibly understand what you're saying if I'm not in your mind and behind your eyes experiencing it as you do? My brain hurts. What an interesting question to ponder…
By Wiki definition: Understanding is a psychological state in relation to an object or person whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to be able to deal adequately with that object.

By this definition I think the phrasing “deal adequately with that object” gives the leniency to not have to believe what you’re hearing to imagine it or relate to it in some manner.

If you know what a lollipop is, you can certainly *imagine* the sun being made out of lollipops, which allows you to “deal adequately with that object”. I think it’s different when you’re talking about a person’s feelings or interpretations though. How can you understand someone’s belief that the sun is made of lollipops if you cannot believe it? I see it as though you can understand the concept, but not understand that person’s feelings behind it.

But then I read it again and interpret your question differently… How can I possibly understand what you’re saying if I’m not in your mind and behind your eyes experiencing it as you do?

My brain hurts.

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