Young Master Smeet

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  • in reply to: Science for Communists? #102727

    How has Einstein exploded materialist science?  Other than disproving Newton?

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102725

    Sheldrake is a pseudoscientist  who propounds something called Morphic resonance (also he may be one of those misusing quantum physics for mystic purposes).  He is also an anti-materialist.  Read the wikipedia article, it's quite instructive.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Sheldrake

    in reply to: The WSM/SPGB strategy in 2014 #99758

    Well, basic logic suggests the Ass. Sec. is wrong.  there is a restriction: "It is encouraged to use the abbreviated form 'The Socialist Party' in any other context where confusion with other similarly named organisations is unlikely." That is the restriction, and the "encouragment" of conference is quite a strong one, so the default is Socialist Party, and in exceptional circumstances, Socialist Party of Great Britain.  The inclusion of our object and address on most publications is enough to render teh confusion exemption moot.

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102716

    So, the human mind can make prime numbers non-infinite?  Interesting.  See, I introduced maths because the standard of proof in maths is very high, and when mathematicians say something is true, it is.  So, Lbird chooses not to answer a straight question, such as are the number of primes infinite, because that opens up a field in which things are either true of not (there were several other options than bluster available, but bluster was chosen).  Also, I note Lbird's comment early about Marx, Einstein Rovelli, etc. that clarified something that has been mniggling for a long time, because for such an anti-elitist, Lbird often puts forward what amounts to argument by authority, and very rarely puts forward propositions themself.Lets try this.  If we held a vote on this board, and declared Lbird's positions to be wrong, what would be their response?  Would they acfcept the democratic verdict of their peers, or would they stick to their guns, as an obstinate minority.  I think we all know the answer: the the question becomes, why swhould anyone in socialism behave any differently?

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102689

    LBird,can human thought make the number of prime non-infinite?  Whether we invented numbers or found them  primes are infinite, irrespective of the wishes or ideas of humans. 

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102682

    SP, well, it's actually arguable whether maths is entirely a human construct, or if it relates to something real (hence the unreasonable efficacy of mathematicsL: after all, Dirac predicted anti-matter through mathematics alone, and experiment had to follow).  Further, since the discussion is about truth, and materialism, whether humans created maths is irrelevent, the fact is it is true that there are an infinite number of primes.  Whether you are proletarian, aristocracy, or bourgeois, there are an infinite number of primes.  So, it does cut to the heart of the matter.

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102675

    Lbird,No, I don't think he is, but to my mind a mild variant on Russell's Teapot applies to any notion of a truth beyond the observable.So, back to prime numbers, is it true that there are an infinite number of prime numbers?

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102671

    Lbird,It's a serious question: are there, or are there not, an ifninite number of prime numbers?

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102670

    Lird is clearly a mind reader, since he knows what i think without having to wait for me to produce words to state what I think. Apparently.Anyway, a further quote:

    Charlie & Fred wrote:
    We know only a single science, the science of history.

    https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1845/german-ideology/ch01a.htmAnd back to the previous section of the economic manuscripts, Marx agrees with what I've been saying here all along (he had time travel and other useful stuff at his disposal):

    Quote:
    Man is the immediate object of natural science; for immediate, sensuous nature for man is, immediately, human sensuousness (the expressions are identical) – presented immediately in the form of the other man sensuously present for him. Indeed, his own sense-perception first exists as human sensuousness for himself through the other man.

      Remember, I said it first.Science is an organised system of reliable knowledge.Anyway, Lbird, quick Q: are there are infinite number of prime numbers?

    in reply to: North East Regional Branch #100549

    NERB does control its own meeting list, it just hasn't issued any instructions lately.

    in reply to: Science for Communists? #102668

    Just a quick Charlie Bomb I was thinking of throwing in :

    Quote:
    Sense-perception (see Feuerbach) must be the basis of all science. Only when it proceeds from sense-perception in the two-fold form of sensuous consciousness and sensuous need – is it true science. All history is the history of preparing and developing “man” to become the object of sensuous consciousness, and turning the requirements of “man as man” into his needs. History itself is a real part of natural history – of nature developing into man. Natural science will in time incorporate into itself the science of man, just as the science of man will incorporate into itself natural science: there will be one science.

    http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1844/manuscripts/comm.htm

    in reply to: Piketty’s data #101945

    I don't think we have Piketty per se to thanks for that data (although I gather his conclusion is low growth is likely to be a feature of capitalism for sometime), I just drew back to him since the thread is ostensibly about his data.

    in reply to: Piketty’s data #101943
    Quote:
    Productivity is even more significant than GDP per capita because without growth employers can’t increase wages.

    And herein the pernicious lie, and (in line with what Piketty has been saying) the problem for reformists.  It's easy to give away wages when productivity is rising, especially as the increase in wages will not be the same as the total increase in productivity.

    in reply to: Israel, Gaza and the realities of capitalism #102426

    and while Israel, strangely, gets all the headline:http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/07/refugees-living-a-nightmare-in-northern-pakistan/

    Quote:
    [Internall Displaced Persons] have been streaming in since the military operation began on Jun. 15, reaching close to a million by mid-July, officials here say. So far, aid has come in the form of food rations and medical supplies for the wounded, as well as those left dehydrated by the scorching 45-degree heat.

    Pakistani generals are claiming no civilians killed:http://www.criticalthreats.org/pakistan/jan-gauging-success-nwa-operation-july-25-2014This may, though, be the old trick of labelling everyone killed a terrorist.This is just a coincidence of live fire, there are other hotspots like Israel/Palestine with sporadic slaughter as a continuing feature, and these do not get half an inch as much coverage.  Anyone remember the fate of the Tamil Tigers?

    in reply to: Israel, Gaza and the realities of capitalism #102424

    This article if fascinating:http://theconversation.com/my-time-in-israeli-defence-force-tells-me-the-level-of-casualties-in-gaza-is-avoidable-30133Although the call is, ultimately, for a more refined butchery (changes to the rules of engagement) it comes from an authoritative source.

    Quote:
    There’s no reason to think the Israelis couldn’t change their rules, though. We have international conventions banning, for instance, the use of chemical weapons in war, so it is possible, I believe, to also prohibit the use of heavy artillery, big bombs and cruel procedures in densely populated areas such as the Gaza Strip. After all, it is also in Israel’s interest, as the horrific pictures coming out of the Gaza Strip ruin the country’s already tarnished reputation.

      He notes that the IDF are dropping 250-1,000 kg bombs on Gaza.  Last I checked, the payload of the rockets Hamas are chucking out are about 10kg (in ethical terms, neither here nor there, but the different is a brick wall is likely to protect you from a 90 kilo bomb at about 10 metres).  As Wikipedia notes the Hamas rockets cost about €500 each to make, so just by launching them, and forcing Israel to spend millions shooting them down, they are inflicting a significant cost on Israel.  Such is the harsh logic of war.Thus, the article's suggestion that the bombing campaign is about trying to rive a wedge between Hamas and the population of Gaza is interesting.  That would mean Israel reckons the cost of this offensive is less than the drain of fighting off Hamas' rockets.

Viewing 15 posts - 2,551 through 2,565 (of 3,078 total)