You know this is driving me crazy, don't you? I need to know the nature of this trap.
Part of my problem may be that I lean towards being Objectivist and A is A seems like a perfectly acceptable proposition to me.
You're funny!
Okay...I'll try this again....
A might be A, but that is a
model of the universe. It's not the real thing and therefore it cannot be a
univers(e)al truth. The statement just a model. And in this case it's an identity which is also a human construct. If your construct was a UT, you'd be that god that AverageJoe is talking about and getting bored being one.
Robbie is correct that A=A is a true statement, but not a UT.
Being an Objectivist carries with it the same difficulties as does being a Subjectivist (or Organicist or Theologist or most any -ist). The trap is that no matter what Robbie's UT's are, he has an epistemological problem of stating how he knows what a true UT is. Even though I promised not to ask for proof or debate, he's smart enough to know that he'll end up having to defend a
belief system from one of you smarties. From a little history, I think I can pretty accurately guess that Robbie is an Experiential Subjectivist in the mode of the mystics.
Knowing (a UT) is not translatable or transferrable in this realm. (Correct me anytime if I'm wrong, Robbie. LOL
) Buddhists would be of this kind. Ask them for a UT and in return you're asked "What is the sound of one hand clapping?". They believe that they know their UT, but you're just gonna have to figure it out for yourself.
But whether I'm right or wrong about Robbie's approach, he has the same epistemology hurdle to overcome. That's the same reason why you're sputtering over your
belief that A=A is a UT. It's the same reason he came back with the denial of my stated UT (which I called a belief!!)...and I agree with him. So again..what's my UT?...that
belief in a UT is universal, and mankind is confused about the nature of the universe.
In the end, I think Robbie might at least come forward and tell you A. That I'm completely wrong about him, or more likely, B. That you can only know. You can't express it outside yourself.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!
