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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 10/08/2012 09:54 AM, Laurence
Anthony wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:CAL6Fgv3JaPOt46qhnBU6sPq5z9yizNX+sNyF8LKN81Qzwzt15A@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">Some may argue that it is not necessary to have an
agreed definition,
but I would claim that this will lead to confusion and perhaps
slower
progress. In most sciences, precise definitions are the foundation
on
which research is based.
</blockquote>
<br>
From what I've seen in most sciences, people tend to get bogged
down in interminable debates over definitions that are really
resource gatekeeping in disguise. Much better to dispense with the
pretense and openly talk about what kind of corpus research deserves
to be funded, published, sponsored, etc.<br>
<br>
All of the terms you've listed are controversial in their fields
for precisely these reasons:<br>
<br>
What is life?<br>
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<a
href="http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-great-debate-what-is-life">http://thesciencenetwork.org/programs/the-great-debate-what-is-life</a><br>
<br>
What is matter?<br>
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-is-matter.html">http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-is-matter.html</a><br>
<br>
What is a mind?<br>
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<a href="http://www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/class/120/3-mind.htm">http://www.utm.edu/staff/jfieser/class/120/3-mind.htm</a><br>
<br>
What is a thought?<br>
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<a
href="http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/consciousness-and-the-brain/201202/what-is-thought-0">http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/consciousness-and-the-brain/201202/what-is-thought-0</a><br>
<br>
What is illness?<br>
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charset=ISO-8859-1">
<a
href="http://www.amazon.com/Encounters-Invisible-Controversy-Syndrome-HUMANITIES/dp/0870745042">http://www.amazon.com/Encounters-Invisible-Controversy-Syndrome-HUMANITIES/dp/0870745042</a><br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Angus B. Grieve-Smith
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:grvsmth@panix.com">grvsmth@panix.com</a></pre>
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