> (4) Ought vs. Is
> The Fact/Value Dichotomy comes up occasionally as a bone of contention
that
> the MoQ should be able to either solve or dissolve. This seems to have
> started with Hume and, I think, "A Treatise on Human Nature". Referring to
> proofs of the being of God: "... when of a sudden I am surprised to find
> that instead of the usual copulations of propositions "is" and "is not", I
> meet with no proposition that is not connected with an "ought" or "ought
> not" ... as this "ought" or "ought not" expresses some new relation or
> affirmation it is necessary that it be observed and explained; and at the
> same time a reason should be given for what seems altogether
inconceivable,
> how this new relation can be a deduction from others which are entirely
> different from it." In other words, is it reasonable to derive OUGHT from
IS
> and does the MoQ allow, or preferably insist, that this is acceptable.
>
I am not quite sure where to begin here, so I will apologize by saying what
follows is probably of very LOW value interest to the reader:
I've spoken with a lot of people on the subject of what is and what is not
a "fact". I think the easiest and most useful definition (Occam's Razor
is delightfully MoQ) is that a "fact" is a static label for a Quality Event.
For example:
Static Fact: This in my hand is a piece of toast.
Dynamic event - I crush the piece of toast into crumbs.
New Static Fact: This in my hand is a pile of crumbs.
Both are equally true given the time they are stated to be a "fact"
(remembering a "fact" is a static label for a Quality Event). They
are useful only on a static basis and are not the same as the Value
with a big V.
As for Mr. Hume: the derivation of "ought" from "is" is the single
deadliest form of scientific blindness. What "is" a "fact" is only
a relationally useful thing to be aware of. Deriving "oughts" from
our "is's" leads our minds to substitute "is" after a while.
I've been as succinct and on topic as possible. My apologies for
any reader not finding this relevant.
Soj
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