[FRIAM] why I am tempted to worship computer programmers

[Frank Wimberly]

Take a triangle, any triangle.  There is, modulo congruence, only one
triangle with sides with the lengths of the original triangle.

Take a quadrilateral.  There are infinitely many quadrilaterals with sides
with the lengths of the original.

---
Frank C. Wimberly
140 Calle Ojo Feliz,
Santa Fe, NM 87505

505 670-9918
Santa Fe, NM

On Wed, Mar 17, 2021, 1:06 PM <thompnickson2 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Wimsatt defined an emergent property of X as any property of X that arises
> from the configuration or the order of assembly of the components of X.
> One of the reasons that programming fascinates me is that it reeks with
> emergence in this very sence.  It’s like cake-making in that regard: order
> is essential.  Now others have attempted to define emergence by the wonder
> it provokes: definitions like, “an emergent trait of a collection is one
> that cannot be explained solely on the basis of the properties of the items
> collected.  So, now, I am thinking, “Gee, suddenly this is beginning to
> sound like the philosophy of mind.”
>
>
>
> *So, that makes me think of writing an essay (or sitting around and
> applauding while one of you writes an essay) entitled:  “TRIANGULARITY: The
> Hard Problem.  Such an essay would begin with a recipe for a triangle, an
> algorithm for its demonstration.   Ingredients: 4 2’ long 1 x 2’s; 3 2”
> hinges, with removable pins.  Screws to fit.  Drill.  Directions: Remove
> pins from hinges and screw hinges to the ends of three of  the 1x2’s.
> Assemble triangle and pin hinges.  Note how resistant that structure is
> against deformation. Now, attach the remaining hinge to the ends of the
> remaining 1x2.  Unpin one of the hinges of the triangle and insert the 4th
> 1x2.  Note that the resulting structure is entirely deformable, floppy
> even.  Finally, spend two millennia wondering about the ineffability of
> triangularity… or not.    *
>
> ‘
>
> Nick
>
> Nick Thompson
>
> ThompNickSon2 at gmail.com
>
> https://wordpress.clarku.edu/nthompson/
>
>
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