Hypothesis of Binary Description

When the description of some class of sensation is made more exact by subdividing it into two mutually exclusive parts, then we say we are making a binary description of the experience. The hypothesis of binary description is a presumption that theoretical physics is based on making distinctions of this sort. For more about how to make a binary description into a mathematical statement, click on the following links and icons.

Binary Descriptions
 Compare achromatic visual sensations with seeing the Sun to define a number $\delta_{w}$ called the whiteness. Compare organic chromatic sensations with seeing blood1 to define a number $\delta_{m}$ called the redness. Compare inorganic chromatic sensations with seeing gold to define a number $\delta_{e}$ called the yellowness. Compare dangerous thermal sensations with touching ice to define a number $\delta_{T}$ called the hotness. Compare safe thermal sensations with touching steam to define a number $\delta_{\tau}$ called the coldness. Compare somatic sensations with hearing a heartbeat to define a number $\delta^{*}$ called the oddness. Compare sour sensations with tasting a lemon to define a number $\delta_{\sf{H}}$ called the sourness. Compare salty sensations with tasting the ocean to define a number $\delta_{\sf{I}}$ called the saltiness. Compare sweet sensations with visual sensations to define a number $\delta_{\sf{S}}$ called the sweetness.

Binary descriptions reduce all detail and subtlety to just two mutually exclusive possibilities. This is a very simple way of describing sensation. It may well produce an inadequate gloss of the experience. Or it might be a useful way of managing complexity. For more discussion click here.

 Next step: Anaxagorean sensations.
 Summary
 Noun Definition Binary Descriptors $\sf{\text{A mutually exclusive pair of characteristics.}}$ 2-1
 Adjective Definition Whiteness $\delta_{w} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is white }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is black }} \end{cases}$ 2-2
 Adjective Definition Redness $\delta_{m} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is red }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is green }} \end{cases}$ 2-3
 Adjective Definition Yellowness $\delta_{e} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is yellow }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is blue }} \end{cases}$ 2-4
 Adjective Definition Hotness $\delta_{T} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is hot }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is freezing }} \end{cases}$ 2-5
 Adjective Definition Coldness $\delta_{\tau} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is cool }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is steamy }} \end{cases}$ 2-6
 Adjective Definition Oddness $\delta^{*} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is on the left side }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sensation is on the right side }} \end{cases}$ 2-7
 Adjective Definition Sourness $\delta_{\sf{H}} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sour taste sensation is tart }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sour taste sensation is soapy }} \end{cases}$ 2-8
 Adjective Definition Saltiness $\delta_{\sf{I}} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a moist taste sensation is brackish }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a moist taste sensation is potable }} \end{cases}$ 2-9
 Adjective Definition Sweetness $\delta_{\sf{S}} \equiv \begin{cases} +1 &\sf{\text{if a sweet taste sensation is sugary }} \\ -1 &\sf{\text{if a sweet taste sensation is savory }} \end{cases}$ 2-10
page revision: 248, last edited: 27 Aug 2018 21:29