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Two identical learners, observing different example input, or the same
examples, but in different order, can form different categories and so
judge newer/later input differently. (Machine Learning, T. Mitchell,
McGraw-Hill, 1997 and Asa H, R. Jones, Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., vol.
109, # 3/4, pg 159. 2006) It seems certain that each of us
experiences a somewhat different reality, the question is just how
widely these realities can vary one from another.
Perhaps 4 % of people exhibit synesthesia, perceiving letters or
numbers as colored, numbers and dates as having personalities or
occupying locations in space. (Synesthesia, R. Cytowic, MIT Press,
2002)
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis claims that a speakers language
influences his category structure and the way he thinks. (Language,
thought, and Reality, B. Whorf, MIT Press, 1956) Those who are
skillful at mathematics may know an additional language and be able to
think thoughts that the layman can not.
The philosophers Plato and Descartes claimed to have had, at
certain moments in their lives, a new view of the world, its basic
constituents, and its rules which were totally differenty from our
conventional view of reality. (Reflections on Kurt Godel, H. Wang, MIT
Press, 1987, pg. 46)
Fairly large scale differences are experienced by those who
believe in (make use of) concepts like spirit(s), soul(s), god(s),
platonism or Everett's many worlds interpretation of quantum
mechanics. (The Physics of Immortality, F. Tipler, Doubleday, 1994, pg
176)
R. Jones |
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