ontology
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The Mercury-Neptune Dilemma
An Epistemic Limitation in Science
It is not possible to know whether a gap between theory and observation requires adding a bit of missing data, or is instead grounds for revamping the theory. Let me explain. The planet Neptune was discovered “with the point of a pen”: it solved an apparent discrepancy between the observed orbit of Uranus and what…
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Soup Vs Dumplings: a Metaphysical Meal
Or, what an absurd game can teach us about the shape(s) of thought
Some years ago, a friend of mine introduced our hivemind to a sort of word game or thought experiment. It works thusly: Every food item is either soup or dumpling. There are no other options. You are not allowed to say “neither” or introduce new categories. So each ‘player’ works through various examples of food…