LL-L "Language programming" 2009.01.15 (05) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 15 January 2009 - Volume 05
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From: Andrys Onsman <Andrys.Onsman at calt.monash.edu.au>
Subject: LL-L "Language programming" 2009.01.15 (01) [E]

To: Mark Dreyer et al


Subject: LL-L "Language programming"

From: Andrys Onsman

Dear Mark,

In your post, you made two comments that are subject to some contestation:

The Jesuits say, "Give us a child until he is eight, & he will be



At that time, the notion of learning was akin to (classical or
at best, operant)conditioning. In actuality, learning happened despite the
conditioning. Learning (as opposed to simply schooling) is generally more
reflective (what if?) than conditioning which tends to be reflexive (if -
then). We now know that the brain is far more flexible than the Jesuits
thought and essential learning can and does occur after 8 - in fact it
happens after 80. The documentary series "7 Up" is based on that statement.

Further, the Jesuits had an unshakeable belief in intelligent design, a
notion shown to have irresolvable flaws. Nonetheless, it makes an
interesting conceit to put those two ideas together.

Sandy, The brain *does* work *something* like a computer. it processes data.



Well, mostly it doesn't work like a computer. The brain does not
generally create either stores of data organised in any kind of lineal
system, nor does it create logical algorithms or crawling retrieval
systems. As far as we know knowledge domains and schema are much more
like holistic imbroglios and retrieval is much more haphazardly dynamic.


Nevertheless, you are dead right to point out that  a mother-duck or cat
 knows if one of her offspring is missing. This isn't evidence of a duck or
a cat having a sense of number. It is evidence of a sense of recognition. In
the same way you miss an invited guest at a cocktail-party because you don't
see his face. it isn't necessary or to the point to count the other guests.



Wouldn't recognition be an aspect of a sense of number? And vice versa?
And aren't these things always related to the observer?

Cheers
Andrys

•

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