30. Systematic Ambiguity - A Poem in the System

Harold R. (Hal) Foster’s Prince Valiant

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 Systematic Ambiguity
(A N Whitehead and B Russell)

The universe consists

of objects which occur

having various qualities

and standing in

various relations.

Some of the objects

which occur in

the universe are

complex.

 

When an object

is complex, it

consists of

interrelated parts.

 

Let us consider

a complex object

composed of two parts

a and b standing

to each other in

the relation R.

The complex object

“a-in-the-relation-R-to-b”

may be capable

of being perceived;

when perceived,

it is perceived

as one object

Attention may show

that it is complex;

we then judge

that a and b

stand in the

relation R.

Such a judgment,

being derived from

perception by

mere attention,

may be called a

“judgment of perception.”

This judgment of

perception, considered

as an actual occurrence,

in a relation

of four terms,

namely: a and b

and R and the percipient.

The perception,

on the contrary,

is a relation

of two terms, namely:

“a-in-the-relation-R-to-b.”

and the percipient.

 

Since an object

of perception

cannot be nothing,

we cannot perceive

“a-in-the-relation-R-to-b,”

unless a is in the

relation R to b.

 

Hence a judgment

of perception,

according to

the above definition,

must be true.

This does not

mean that, in a

judgment which

appears to us

to be one of

perception, we

are sure of

not being in error,

since we may err

in thinking that

our judgment has

really been derived

merely by analysis

of what was perceived.

But if our

judgment has

been so derived,

it must be true.

 

In fact

we may define truth,

where such judgments

are concerned, as 

consisting in the fact

that there is a

complex corresponding

to the

discursive thought

which is the judgment.

 

That is,

when we judge

“a has the relation

R to b,” our

judgment is said

to be true when

there is a complex

“a-in-the-relation-R-to-b,”

and is said

to be false when

this is not the case.

 

This is a

definition of truth

and falsehood

in relation to

judgments of

this kind.

 
When I read the first two sentences in the above paragraph I read it as amazing poetry, and copied it down in my notebook broken down as presented above. I saw this analysis of truth and falsehood in terms of complexity and relations as something that relates to everyone and everything. This poem has been an aspect of Principia Mathematica that I can share with other persons and that they can understand in some fashion, and even if parts seem unclear to them, at least everyone derives some perception of love poetry.

Script: Otto Binder Pencils and Inks: George Papp  Superbaby™  © Respective copyright/trademark holders.

 

Harold R. (Hal) Foster’s Prince Valiant

© Respective copyright/trademark holders.