Binary Descriptions

Definition: When the description of some class of experience is made more exact by subdividing it into two mutually exclusive parts, we say we are making a binary description of the experience. Click on the icons below for more detail about how to put a binary report into mathematical form.

Third Hypothesis
Theoretical physics is based on making binary descriptions of sensation.
achromatic.jpg Achromatic visual sensations are described by comparison to seeing the Sun.
Bangladeshi.GIF Organic chromatic sensations are described by comparison to seeing human blood.
Swedish.gif Inorganic chromatic sensations are described by comparison to seeing gold.
touching-ice.jpeg Big thermal sensations are described by comparison to touching ice.
MS02(detail).jpg Small thermal sensations are described by comparison to touching steam.
clef.jpg Acoustic sensations are described by comparison to hearing a human heartbeat.

Binary descriptions reduce all detail and subtlety to just two mutually exclusive possibilities. This is a very simplified 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.

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Next step: Anaxagorean sensations.
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