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Re^5: If you believe in Lists in Scalar Context, Clap your Hands

by BrowserUk (Patriarch)
on Oct 24, 2008 at 20:02 UTC ( [id://719425]=note: print w/replies, xml ) Need Help??


in reply to Re^4: If you believe in Lists in Scalar Context, Clap your Hands
in thread If you believe in Lists in Scalar Context, Clap your Hands

Think of it as JIT context.

Thinking about that brought an old song to mind :)

Abstraction (analogy) underlies all learning more abstract than the "if you put your hand in the fire, you'll get burned" kind. One good abstraction can do more to promote understanding than all the details in extremis ever can.

By modern standards, the Rutherford model is very inaccurate, though far superior to the the Plum Pudding model that preceded it. None the less, the Rutherford model was sufficient to educate a whole generation of new physicists to the point where they could visualise beyond it, and so replace it.

Fortunately it's the kind of time travel that can be implemented by waiting, as long as someone else isn't... :)

And that made me think of a poem (strictly a prayer, but I omit the first word):

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Whilst looking for the exact wording of that, I came across this. The one response is rather interesting, and thought provoking.

There are several thousands years behind the philosophical debate that rages barely shuttered under the surface of that verse: What is the difference between 'knowledge' and 'wisdom'?


Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
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Re^6: If you believe in Lists in Scalar Context, Clap your Hands
by Gavin (Archbishop) on Oct 25, 2008 at 10:07 UTC

    "What is the difference between 'knowledge' and 'wisdom'?"

    Perhaps experience.

      Perhaps experience.

      Evel Knievel probably knew more about jumping motorcycles than anyone else alive. Knowledge gained through copious experience. But was it wise to keep on doing it?


      Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
      "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
      In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

        "Evel Knievel probably knew more about jumping motorcycles than anyone else alive. Knowledge gained through copious experience. But was it wise to keep on doing it?"

        Perhaps not, but it didn't kill him and I bet he got one hell of an adrenalin buzz doing it!

        He enjoyed it, got lots of money for it, got women interested in him in part because of it, and was willing to suffer the pain and trauma associated with it. Would it have been wise for him to stop doing so before he really wanted to stop? Can we really know the answer?
      Information is not Knowledge. Knowledge is not Wisdom. Wisdom is not Truth. Truth is not Beauty. Beauty is not Love. Love is not Music. Music is the best.

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