Lines of an idle hand

Some drawings that ended up in my history of Ancient Greek Philosophy class notes during somewhat uneventful lectures:

Presidential politics through debate

I was reading through the Lincoln-Douglas debates again earlier and thought it would be interesting to compare them with some of the debates that have occurred in my lifetime. Check them out, it's interesting to see how presidential politics have evolved to become the thing it is today.

1. Political Debates
Between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas
2. CPD: Debate Transcripts

Bird flu karma and an oil-free Sweden

1. Reality takes wing over bird flu
2. Sweden aims for oil-free economy [by the year 2020]

Fun with a dichotomy paradox

This is a variation of Zeno of Elea's dichotomy paradox.

Let's suppose that there is a finite distance, and one must travel from one extrema (point A) to the other extrema (point B). However, because the distance is infinitely divisible, one must traverse an infinite number of points in order to reach the other extrema, thus making the finite distance infinite.

Or for clarity:

(1) The distance between point A and point B is a finite distance.
(2) Measured distance is infinitely divisible.
(3) An infinitely divided distance consists of an infinite number of points.
(4) A distance consisting of an infinite number of points is infinite.

One could say that therefore space (unlike mathematical measurement) isn't infinitely divisible, but I feel as though that would be a lazy way to go about it..

The argument begins with the statement that the distance between A and B is finite, and reaches a conclusion that that same distance is infinite.

Perhaps because the infinite number of points lies within the constraints of two extremes (A and B), the distance remains finite, though there are an infinite number of points between them... although that in itself is paradoxical.

It looks like the trouble stems from some misconception or misapplication of the concept of infinite divisibility, but at the same time all of the premises sound perfectly logical. I guess that's why it's a paradox.

Or.. perhaps (4) is false: a distance consisting of an infinite number of points isn't necessarily of an infinite length? But I'm not sure how one would go about qualifying that statement.

The popular response to the argument is to pace back and forth and not utter a single word, but that merely demonstrates that it's empirically disproven, it doesn't point out which of the premises is invalid.

1. Why Mathematical Solutions of Zeno's Paradoxes Miss the Point


10/21/06 update:

I've been putting this off for a while, but here's my current opinion on this paradox: It is presupposed that we have a distance with two termini, points A and B. This distance can said to be subdivided indefinitely, creating an infinite number of points within the domain of a finite distance... this doesn't demonstrate that space cannot be infinitely subdivided, but rather it presents a paradox, the congruence of two incompatible things... nor does it disprove that there is motion— that is an a posteriori phenomena which is presupposed. Rather— granting that we have motion, the distance between two points still cannot be traversed if the distance is ultimately infinite.

Now, let's look at it this way: we will subdivide this distance at regular intervals, so:

A---|---|---|---|---|---B

Let's now say that, with motion presupposed, it would take 1 second from one marker to the next (A and B are markers also).

And then the line is again divided:

A-}-|-}-|-}-|-}-|-}-|-}-B

Here the distance between |'s is 1 second and }'s is 0.5. It's important to bear in mind the rate in which the infinite subdivision occurs. One could assert that between every 1 second, .5 second, .25 second, etc. division there is an infinite number of points and so respectively the distance could be mathematically written as 6*infinity, 12*infinity, 24*infinity, etc. etc. The important thing to remember is the rate at which the infinite subdivision occurs (i.e. the intervals of subdivision). Eventually there may be a subdivision of 0.5^{-1,000,000,000,000}, but the time required to carry between markers (with motion again presupposed) would be infinitesimally small and, though composed of an infinite sum of time-intervals, still comprise a finite distance (e.g. between markers, the motion-time-thing would remain 1).

...a 78-year-old man... in the face.

This is from the Daily Show last night:

Rob: Tonight the vice president is standing by his decision to shoot Harry Wittington. Now, according to the best intelligence available there were quail hidden in the brush. Everyone believed at the time there were quail in the brush. And while the quail turned out to be a 78-year-old man, even knowing that today, Mr. Cheney insists he still would have shot Mr. Wittington in the face.

He believes the world was a better place for his spreading buckshot throughout the entire region of Mr. Wittington's face.

Jon: Why if he had known that Mr. Wittington was not a bird--if he had had that information Rob, why would the vice president still have shot him in the face?

Rob: In a post-9-11 world, the American people expect their leaders to be decisive. To not have shot his friend in the face would have sent the message to the quail that America is weak.

Jon: On a purely human level, is the vice president at least sorry?

Rob: What difference does it make? The bullets are already in the man's face. Let's move forward across party lines as a people to get him some sort of mask. Hindsight is 20/20 Jon, as was, ironically, the shotgun that the vice president used to shoot his friend, a 78-year-old man, in--what can only be described as--his face.

1. Cheney shoots man in hunt error
2. Cheney shooting delay under fire
3. Hunter Shot by Cheney Has Heart Attack
4. Cheney hunting accident triggers humor volley

"Down with Denmark"

These and other cartoons published last year in a Danish newspaper have caused a stir that is wholly unwarranted:


1. Making Sense of the Cartoon Controversy
2. The World Weighs In as Cartoon Saga Continues
3. Muslims say Western media hypocritical on cartoons
4. Bush Calls for End to Violent Protests
5. Four killed in Afghanistan over cartoon protests
6. Danish embassy in Teheran firebombed

"With all respect to press freedoms, obviously anything that villifies the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, or attacks Muslim sensibilities, I believe, needs to be condemned," [King Abdullah II of Jordan] said.

He went on to say that those who want to protest "should do it thoughfully, articulately, express their views peacefully."

"When we see protests, when we see destruction, when we see violence, especially if it ends up taking the lives of innocent people, is completely unacceptable," he added. "Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, is a religion of peace, tolerance, moderation."

Denmark itself is taking the heat from many groups regarding this issue. That's absurd. The acts of a handful of cartoonists are supposed to reflect the will of the country? Or in some views, that of Europe? These cartoons were in bad taste, and should be socially condemned.. and are.. but the Danish government doesn't need to step in or issue an apology on the part of the few that were involved. Undoubtedly, the credibility and popularity of that newspaper will take a hit, and discourage such acts in the future.

But... this other thing happened. It seems there's pressure from some Iranian groups for Danish/European newspapers to publish an anti-semitic cartoon to show that they aren't uniquely prejudiced against Muslims:
1. Danish paper pursues Holocaust cartoons
2. US: Iranian Holocaust cartoon idea 'outrageous'

Umm.. what?

Hapless poetry 3

Seven shades of gray,
The third a blue,
The first a white;
A serried transgression
Aflutter--

A tree alone among the gallows
Bathed in the grays
Of violets and reds,
A candid antinomy
Aflush, resigned--

Seven days and seven nights,
Alone behind cold blue skies
And pale-dark nights--

A pallid refrain
Treaded on treaded line-
When grays on powdered gray
Despise the color they override.