Right. At least some abstract topics should be discussed, and part of the discussion is which, if any, specifics might be exemplary of such abstractions. Other abstract topics should be avoided, if the relevant examples are politically-charged and the abstraction doesn’t easily encompass other points of view.
Choosing to discuss abstracts primarily which happen to support a specific position, without disclosing that tie, is not OK. It’s discussing the specific in the guise of the abstract. I can’t be sure that’s what Zack is doing, but that’s how it appears from my outsider viewpoint.
Other abstract topics should be avoided, if the relevant examples are politically-charged and the abstraction doesn’t easily encompass other points of view.
Why?
Choosing to discuss abstracts primarily which happen to support a specific position, without disclosing that tie, is not OK.
How exactly does this differ from, “if the truth is on the wrong side politically, so much the worse for the truth”? Should we limit ourselves to abstract discussions that don’tconstrain our anticipations on things we care about?
How exactly does this differ from, “if the truth is on the wrong side politically, so much the worse for the truth”?
It differs in that there is no truth involved. The entire conversation is about which models and ontologies are best, without specifying what purpose they’re serving. The abstraction is avoiding talking about any actual truth (what predictions will be made, and how the bets will be resolved), while asserting that it improves some abstract concept of truth.
Right. At least some abstract topics should be discussed, and part of the discussion is which, if any, specifics might be exemplary of such abstractions. Other abstract topics should be avoided, if the relevant examples are politically-charged and the abstraction doesn’t easily encompass other points of view.
Choosing to discuss abstracts primarily which happen to support a specific position, without disclosing that tie, is not OK. It’s discussing the specific in the guise of the abstract. I can’t be sure that’s what Zack is doing, but that’s how it appears from my outsider viewpoint.
Why?
How exactly does this differ from, “if the truth is on the wrong side politically, so much the worse for the truth”? Should we limit ourselves to abstract discussions that don’t constrain our anticipations on things we care about?
It differs in that there is no truth involved. The entire conversation is about which models and ontologies are best, without specifying what purpose they’re serving. The abstraction is avoiding talking about any actual truth (what predictions will be made, and how the bets will be resolved), while asserting that it improves some abstract concept of truth.