Sober's epiphenomenator

Posted by thompnickson2 on Aug 08, 2020; 4:33pm
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Sober-s-epiphenomenator-tp7598198.html

Dear Diaspora,

 

This object was the subject of a protracted discussion amongst the hangers-on at Friday’s vMeeting of FRIAM.  Upon reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it can be used to explicate almost any problem, including intentionality, referential opacity, epiphenomenality, selection of/for, the law of short-sighted striving, goal/function, design to/by, spandrels, exaptation, abduction, actual/potential, the peculiar passions of robots that herd, side effects, collateral damage, inert ingredients, polyphenism, and, I would predict, a bunch of tangled concepts in software design and AI, as well.  This machine is, indeed, the Key To All Scriptures.  This picture courtesy of Professor Elliott Sober, of Wisconsin’s Department of Philosophy.  

 

Please feel free to add to the list of problems it’s relevant to.  You should all be warned that you are being crowd-sourced for a paper I want us to write. 

 

Enjoy!

 

Nick

 

Nick

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