Author: Warren Tang

I write about linguistics and philosophy. I also write poetry and take photographs.

#define unconsciousness

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Loss of the ability to maintain awareness of self and environment combined with markedly reduced responsiveness to environmental stimuli. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp344-5).

Source: https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/#/record/ui?ui=D014474

The question, then, is whether activity (perception) occurs in the mind (brain) during unconsciousness. Can or does perception continue? Do we interact with the mind-objects, the concepts we have acknowledged (gained knowledge of) even after the sensation of space-objects is shut off?

#HowMany object-oriented ontologists does it take to change a light bulb?

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Q: How many object-oriented ontologists does it take to change a light bulb?

Continue reading “#HowMany object-oriented ontologists does it take to change a light bulb?” →

Catch/stone

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“God is a metaphor,” I said. 

“Is that with a capital ‘G’ or a lowercase ‘g’?” my friend asked. 

“You know I only throw stones at Christians (I had meant ‘to Christians’).”

(I am really just playing catchball with stones, you know. The Other(s) always think I am attacking them.)

the view from the penthouse

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my two windows
face one direction
i am a penthouse
on legs
lame as it may be
(travelling the world
and the seven seas)
seeing only
what i want to see
and no more

#define institution 

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Institution (or social institution) – a “structure” which simultaneously uses and is used by individuals and social groups. Well known and often studied institutions are culture, society, religion, science, philosophy, art, literature, music, language, politics and government, economy and business, family and the individual. 

On the continuity of the world

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There is reason why the world (the external reality) will not continue (for me) after I die. I do not own it, create it. All evidence points to its independence, that I am but one object within reality. So no amount of sensing it will change the reality. And neither will the non-sensation of it change its existence.

On Realism

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Everyday I wake up and see the world. I see objects. My wife and children (they are ‘objects’ as well) share the same space and time, and objects with me. Those objects are independent of myself, my wife and children. My children fight over them. They do not disappear or suddenly change into something else unrecognizable. There is seemingly an inherent stability in the reality of space-object-time.

While I have no evidence to proof this except that in the nearly half-century of my life (is that time an illusion?) my perception of that reality has been stable, constant. And that the intermediary objects have held constant between myself and other sentient observers.

That alone is good enough evidence for me.

If I cannot rely on the world to be consistent (I do not mean willful consistency) I will not be able to function meaningfully in it.