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I don't disagree with any of this, but what is the utility of viewing this ability as "more advanced"?

munificent 11mo ago
Let's say you're about to embark on a cross-oceanic sailing voyage. For safety reasons, you think it's best to bring another living being with you who can help if things go south or you are incapacitated. Are you going to bring another human, or a goat? Can a goat navigate while you sleep? Can it apply first aid to you? Can it respond on the VHF radio if you get hailed? Can it operate the bilge pump?
- MangoToupe 11mo ago
  Embarking on a cross-oceanic sailing voyage seems to be a particularly human brand of tomfoolery. Why not just stay at home with the goat?
  - munificent 11mo ago
    I honestly can't tell if you think you're being funny, deep, or just trolling.
    - MangoToupe 11mo ago
      No, it was a serious question
      - munificent 11mo ago
        In that case, why do anything? Why leave the house? Why build a house? Why not lay in the dirt? Why exist?
throwaway2562 11mo ago
What is the utility of denying it? What do you or anyone else actually get from such obvious absurdity, I wonder? If it helps - and I have doubts - does (say) a working knowledge of Galois theory require more advanced mathematical cognition than arithmetic? Would it be immoral to introduce such ghastly, hierarchical language? Etc. I see you ignored the obvious rejoinder downthread, which stated that the utility of classifying behaviours or capacities is to help you predict outcomes. How much more help do you need here? It’s not very complicated, but you prefer to showboat.
- MangoToupe 11mo ago
  > What is the utility of denying it? Speaking in material terms allows clearer communication of meaningful concepts than floating signifiers. "Advanced" is just a meaningless concept. > I see you ignored the obvious rejoinder downthread, which stated that the utility of classifying behaviours or capacities is to help you predict outcomes. It also helps you mispredict outcomes
antisthenes 11mo ago
> I don't disagree with any of this, but what is the utility of viewing this ability as "more advanced"? Because that's the most accurate description of what it is. The more accurately you describe something, the more effectively you communicate, an aspect of more advanced cognition.
- MangoToupe 11mo ago
  It's only accurate if you understand what the meaning of advanced is, and it has no clear semantics or referent. It's a floating signifier.

Let's say you're about to embark on a cross-oceanic sailing voyage. For safety reasons, you think it's best to bring another living being with you who can help if things go south or you are incapacitated. Are you going to bring another human, or a goat? Can a goat navigate while you sleep? Can it apply first aid to you? Can it respond on the VHF radio if you get hailed? Can it operate the bilge pump?

MangoToupe 11mo ago
Embarking on a cross-oceanic sailing voyage seems to be a particularly human brand of tomfoolery. Why not just stay at home with the goat?
- munificent 11mo ago
  I honestly can't tell if you think you're being funny, deep, or just trolling.
  - MangoToupe 11mo ago
    No, it was a serious question
    - munificent 11mo ago
      In that case, why do anything? Why leave the house? Why build a house? Why not lay in the dirt? Why exist?

throwaway2562 11mo ago

What is the utility of denying it? What do you or anyone else actually get from such obvious absurdity, I wonder? If it helps - and I have doubts - does (say) a working knowledge of Galois theory require more advanced mathematical cognition than arithmetic? Would it be immoral to introduce such ghastly, hierarchical language? Etc. I see you ignored the obvious rejoinder downthread, which stated that the utility of classifying behaviours or capacities is to help you predict outcomes. How much more help do you need here? It’s not very complicated, but you prefer to showboat.

MangoToupe 11mo ago
> What is the utility of denying it? Speaking in material terms allows clearer communication of meaningful concepts than floating signifiers. "Advanced" is just a meaningless concept. > I see you ignored the obvious rejoinder downthread, which stated that the utility of classifying behaviours or capacities is to help you predict outcomes. It also helps you mispredict outcomes

antisthenes 11mo ago

> I don't disagree with any of this, but what is the utility of viewing this ability as "more advanced"? Because that's the most accurate description of what it is. The more accurately you describe something, the more effectively you communicate, an aspect of more advanced cognition.

MangoToupe 11mo ago
It's only accurate if you understand what the meaning of advanced is, and it has no clear semantics or referent. It's a floating signifier.