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Guessing Game

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Charlie-Boo

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Nov 5, 2009, 12:52:16 PM11/5/09
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I am thinking of two things. Can you guess what either is?

You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
answer all that I can.

They don’t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.

You just can’t ask, “What are you thinking about?”!

C-B

John Jones

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Nov 5, 2009, 4:51:03 PM11/5/09
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Charlie-Boo wrote:
> I am thinking of two things. Can you guess what either is?

According to Wittgenstein (Tractatus), statements of the sort "there are
two objects" or "7 is a number" are nonsensical.

>
> You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
> answer all that I can.
>

> They don�t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.
>
> You just can�t ask, �What are you thinking about?�!
>
> C-B

Objects are given through their presentation, or through a presentation
of their symbol.

That is, you are asking us to consider the possibility of a hidden
presentation. I don't think that's on at all.

Charlie-Boo

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Nov 5, 2009, 5:11:39 PM11/5/09
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On Nov 5, 4:51 pm, John Jones <jonescard...@btinternet.com> wrote:
> Charlie-Boo wrote:
> > I am thinking of two things.  Can you guess what either is?
>
> According to Wittgenstein (Tractatus), statements of the sort "there are
> two objects" or "7 is a number" are nonsensical.

They seem ok in Mathematics.

> > You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
> > answer all that I can.
>

> > They don’t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.
>

> > You just can’t ask, “What are you thinking about?”!


>
> > C-B
>
> Objects are given through their presentation, or through a presentation
> of their symbol.
>
> That is, you are asking us to consider the possibility of a hidden
> presentation. I don't think that's on at all.

You could have asked, "What are you thinking of?" if I hadn't added
the extra condition prohibiting it, so there are solutions. Just
asking if there are other solutions than the one that I ruled out.

C-B

James Burns

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Nov 5, 2009, 5:32:23 PM11/5/09
to
Charlie-Boo wrote:
> On Nov 5, 4:51 pm, John Jones <jonescard...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>
>>Charlie-Boo wrote:
>>
>>>I am thinking of two things. Can you guess what either is?
>>
>>According to Wittgenstein (Tractatus), statements of the sort "there are
>>two objects" or "7 is a number" are nonsensical.
>
>
> They seem ok in Mathematics.
>
>
>>>You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
>>>answer all that I can.
>>
>>>They don�t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.
>>
>>>You just can�t ask, �What are you thinking about?�!

>>
>>>C-B
>>
>>Objects are given through their presentation, or through a presentation
>>of their symbol.
>>
>>That is, you are asking us to consider the possibility of a hidden
>>presentation. I don't think that's on at all.
>
> You could have asked, "What are you thinking of?" if I hadn't added
> the extra condition prohibiting it, so there are solutions. Just
> asking if there are other solutions than the one that I ruled out.

Ah. A game different from the one I thought you were playing.

If I were permitted to ask "What are you thinking of?"
and did, and you answered honestly, what would you answer?

Jim Burns

Peter Webb

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Nov 7, 2009, 12:13:44 PM11/7/09
to

"Charlie-Boo" <shyma...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:6fc85553-d21b-4bb7...@z41g2000yqz.googlegroups.com...

I am thinking of two things. Can you guess what either is?

You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
answer all that I can.

They don�t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.

______________________________
I'll play. Does the first one start with the letter "A" ?

VK

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Nov 7, 2009, 2:04:13 PM11/7/09
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1) "I am thinking" refers to you as a human being or as an abstract
"thinking matter choice" automate?

2) two things out of how many?

John Jones

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Nov 7, 2009, 7:40:15 PM11/7/09
to
Charlie-Boo wrote:
> On Nov 5, 4:51 pm, John Jones <jonescard...@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> Charlie-Boo wrote:
>>> I am thinking of two things. Can you guess what either is?
>> According to Wittgenstein (Tractatus), statements of the sort "there are
>> two objects" or "7 is a number" are nonsensical.
>
> They seem ok in Mathematics.
>
>>> You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
>>> answer all that I can.
>>> They don�t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.
>>> You just can�t ask, �What are you thinking about?�!

>>> C-B
>> Objects are given through their presentation, or through a presentation
>> of their symbol.
>>
>> That is, you are asking us to consider the possibility of a hidden
>> presentation. I don't think that's on at all.
>
> You could have asked, "What are you thinking of?"

Yes. But there is no framework for the objects that you want to present.
So there is no possibility of even asking "what are you 'thinking' of".


> if I hadn't added
> the extra condition prohibiting it, so there are solutions. Just
> asking if there are other solutions than the one that I ruled out.
>
> C-B

Say it again please if you would.

John Jones

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Nov 7, 2009, 7:44:00 PM11/7/09
to


My error. I meant to say


"But there is no framework for the objects that you want to present.

So there is no possibility of even asking "what 'thing' are you thinking
of.",
rather than say, as I did,

John Jones

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Nov 7, 2009, 7:44:46 PM11/7/09
to


See my post. It reflects your insight and puts it more exactly.

John Jones

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Nov 7, 2009, 7:45:21 PM11/7/09
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VK wrote:
> On Nov 5, 8:52 pm, Charlie-Boo <shymath...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I am thinking of two things. Can you guess what either is?
>>
>> You can ask as many questions as you want and I will (truthfully)
>> answer all that I can.
>>
>> They don�t even have to be yes/no (finite multiple choice) questions.
>>
>> You just can�t ask, �What are you thinking about?�!

>
> 1) "I am thinking" refers to you as a human being or as an abstract
> "thinking matter choice" automate?
>
> 2) two things out of how many?

See my response for clarification of the issues.

Nunemica

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Nov 9, 2009, 9:09:01 AM11/9/09
to

I am having a problem dealing with your thoughts - you see your are
thinking at the rate of about 1,000 words per minute - and I'm having
trouble deciphering which two specific things to extract from these
thoughts.

Nunemica

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Nov 9, 2009, 10:06:55 AM11/9/09
to
On Nov 9, 6:09 am, Nunemica <tinabarbarar...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Nov 5, 9:52 am, Charlie-Boo <shymath...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I am thinking of two things.  Can you guess what either is?
>
> > You just can’t ask, “What are you thinking about?”!
>
> > C-B
>

Then can we ask: What two things are you thinking about?


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