Re: Contradiction: there is no such a thing as a fact

[Myron Tribus <mtribus@home.com>]

The discussion of the meanings people associate with the word "fact" 
reminds me that in Deming's "System of Profound Knowledge" he 
included the "Theory of Knowledge".  In reading the discussions on 
the DEN I get the impression that there is a general understanding of 
the significance of variability, of systems and of psychology, three 
of Deming's elements of SoPK.  However, it seems to me that the 
theory of knowledge does not have as many serious students.

Before Dr.Deming defined his SoPK, I was working on a paper to 
describe the kinds of competencies I thought a manager should have. 
In it I included variability, systems and psychology.  However, when 
Dr. Deming defined more accurately his SoPK, I was chagrined to 
realize that I had omitted the theory of knowledge. Dr. Deming's SoPK 
made my contribution unnecessary, so I never published it.  If I had 
stopped at that point, I would have written much along the same lines 
as so many of the other contributors to this thread.

In my copy of the Encyclopedia Brittanica, I find twelve pages 
devoted to "Theory of Knowledge".  When you realize that most entries 
get at most a half page, you realize how important the compilers of 
the Encyclopedia thought this subject to be.  You also can see that 
there was a lack of agreement since they approach the subject from so 
many different angles.

The theory of knowledge is the main topic of Lewis' "Mind and the 
World Order".  I am not surprised that not too many people go deeply 
into this topic.  Most of the authors are difficult to read.

Myron Tribus,  350 Britto Terrace,  Fremont, CA 94539
Ph:510 651 3641  Fax: 510 656 9875   e-mail: mtribus@home.com
Experience is a great teacher but there is a shortage of pupils.