Steve Patterson

Category: Language and Mathematics

  • There Are No Objective Definitions

    More often than not, language is the problem.

    An enormous amount of confusion comes from misunderstanding the nature of language – the relationship between language and objective reality. Linguistic errors plague every area of thought, and they affect everybody from the layman to the intellectual. But they become most important in philosophy, where small errors affect our entire worldview.

    One of the most common errors is thinking there are “objective definitions” for words. People waste an enormous amount of time endlessly debating about the “correct definition” for some word. They are confused. Language doesn’t work that way. The misunderstanding can be resolved rather simply:

    There are no objective definitions for words.

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  • The Rubik’s Cube Solves Any Paradox

    The humble Rubik’s cube can teach us something profound about the world.

    Since its invention in 1974, the cube has created a passionate following. We enthusiasts even have a name: “Cubists”. Once you know the secret, solving a Rubik’s cube is very relaxing and satisfying. It’s like a mental massage for people on the OCD spectrum.

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  • Hiding Behind Abstractions

    Imagine you’ve just moved to a new town. It’s a little shady, so you want to purchase a guard dog. Your friend knows some local dog breeders, so you ask him to buy a good dog for you.

    He brings you back a Chihuahua.

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  • Infinite Things Do Not Exist

    For the last several years, I’ve been on the hunt.

    I’ve been searching for an explanation for the popularity of irrational beliefs. People casually accept contradictions into their worldview; they are convinced that paradoxes exist. I’ve been trying to understand why.

    Their arguments frequently end up appealing to mistaken interpretations of quantum physics or the liar’s paradox. But there’s a deeper, more foundational error that I’ve become convinced is the root of so much confusion, and it comes from the most unexpected place: mathematics.

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  • The Bittersweet Paradox | On Mutual Exclusivity

    Do you ever chuckle at people who see the face of Jesus on their toast? They find confirmation of their faith everywhere; it’s a knot in their wooden table, a message in the clouds, or a face at the bottom of their teacup. Rather than disparage them, we should try to understand their error: it’s a simple methodological mistake. They actively seek out “signs”, and therefore they find them everywhere.

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  • Tautologies Must Not Be Dismissed

    Trivial. Redundant. Dogmatic. Useless.

    That’s what people really mean when they say, “Oh, your argument is just a tautology.” Indeed, one of the quickest ways to dismiss an idea is to label it “tautological” and, therefore, empty of content.

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