Definitions
Definitions are inherently authoritarian. The common interpretation is that the meaning
of words, that is to say, what people mean when they use words, is the same and forever unchanging.
But you only have to use language to find out that is not the case. There is no authority
we can turn to on what words mean, just as is there is no authority on whether British, American, Indian
or New Zealand English is the correct English. They are forever changing, underpinned
by what people mean. And meaning is not explicit, and so whenever we find ourselves
confused by the way people use words, we ask them to explain themselves. The only objective
truth to the matter is the intended meaning. Whether that can be faithfully reproduced using
words or letters, or even successfully understood by the listener/reader makes understanding
other people inherently difficult. And so if we value truth, we must be patient and diligent in trying to
make communication easier. To aid that effort, below is my list of *definitions of words
I use which may differ to common use, or I feel should be clarified where I anticipate confusion.
*DISCLAIMER: The following definitions are subject to revision. A change log
will be included as needed.
Humanism:
A world-view posits that the problems, concerns, interests and aspirations of humans have
inherent value and importance. Thus in navigating our journey through life, solutions to our personal
moral problems necessarily accommodate the existence and values of other humans. Humans belong
to a family of conscious beings that more generally we refer to as "people", which includes Extra
Terrestials (if they exist) and Artificial General Intelligence (if and when it is created).
By possessing personhood, humans are cosmically significant.
Science:
A framework of ideas by which people come to understand physical reality. It encompasses
the modes of criticism utilised by rationality, with the added criterion that physical evidence
can be used to refute, or tentatively corroborate hypotheses. Thus the difference between scientific
hypotheses and all other hypotheses is that they are guesses about physical reality, and so can be
demonstrably refuted by physical reality. In contrast, mathematical hypotheses need not, and indeed
may not correspond to physical reality.
Fallibilism:
The proposition that knowledge is obtainable through conjectures and criticism, but certainty is
not. Consequently, no knowledge, and no ideas in general, are above criticism. This implies that
progress is possible due to the existence of error. We can be less wrong but we can also be mistaken.
Person / People:
The species of being which possesses the knowledge to create more knowledge, and importantly
explanatory knowledge. This has two consequences: (1) knowledge creation is unbounded except where physically
impossible (e.g. time constraints), (2) in order to successfully explain the universe (the task of science) we
need to include phenomena which create knowledge. Thus people are cosmically significant in the
totality of understanding.
Optimism:
The position that recognises that "problems are inevitable"[1] but that problems are
soluble given the right knowledge. In other words, "All evils are the result of insufficient knowledge"[1].
For example, the tragedy of infant
mortality has been largely overcome with the right knowledge. Moreover, not only
does such knowledge exist, but that it is attainable through knowledge creation. Since we know
how to create knowledge (via conjecture and criticism) we can create the right knowledge, if no physical
limitations exist (e.g. time constraints). We therefore have reason to be optimistic in overcoming
our problems in the long run.
- David Deutsch (2011) - The Beginning of Infinity