Coordinate Transformations with t x = space coordinate, t = time coordinate, v = velocity, u = pace Galilean transformation speed: x´ = x – vt and t´ = t, pace: x´ = x – t/u and t´ = t. Dual Galilean transformation speed: t´ = t – x/v and x´ = x, pace: […]
Propositions are contrary if they cannot both be true (though they both may be false). Propositions are contradictory when the truth of one implies the falsity of the other, and conversely. Two properties are contraries if their intersection is null and their union is a whole. A merism is a rhetorical combination of two contrary
Harvey C. Mansfield wrote the book Manliness (Yale University Press, 2007) which is about manliness in the gender-neutral society. The author is a professor of government at Harvard University so the book is concerned with manliness in its social setting. The book is an intellectual tour de force that seeks a place for manliness in
Synchrony or diatopy means 3D space with simultaneous events in order of increasing time. Space-time is synchronic or diatopic. Diachrony means 3D time with simulocuous events in order of decreasing distance. Time-space is diachronic. Chronicles and histories are diachronic. Models and theories are synchronic or diatopic. Knowledge of the distances between objects is important in
A previous post on racism is here. This is a big picture, philosophical look at racism or racisms (as in Francisco Bethencourt’s Racisms: From the Crusades to the Twentieth Century, Princeton University Press, 2014). It is also historical, although that is incidental to the philosophical progression. Racism means treating people differently (e.g., negatively) depending on
This continues the post on the Arrow of tense. Past, present, and future are characteristics of time. But they are also characteristics of places, of things, or events, etc. Yesterday was in the past, today is in the present, and tomorrow is in the future. Past places are remembered, present places are experienced, and future
Updated Aug. 2019 This post highlights several recent terms or definitions added to the glossary above. The distance is the metric of length space, the shortest length between two points in length space. Similarly, the distime is the metric of duration space, the shortest duration between two points in duration space. A time line is
Antony Flew was a leading atheist who came to the conclusion that God exists. What changed his mind? “The difference between life and non-life, it became apparent to me, was ontological and not chemical. The best confirmation of this radical gulf is Richard Dawkins’ comical effort to argue in The God Delusion that the origin
The following is an excerpt from John Zmirak at The Stream on July 26, 2018, here: In the 19th century, many Christians were deeply troubled by Darwin. They accepted his theories as facts that disproved the Bible’s claim to be inspired and inerrant. But they weren’t ready to slough off Christian ethics. Or even (in
I’ve written about centrism before, here, here, here and here. There are two kinds of centrism: Lagging centrism is a political position comparable to a lagging indicator in economics. This position is characterized by going with the direction of the political winds of the day but lagging behind as if hedging one’s bets or being
