Re: virus: maxims and ground rules and suppositions

Eric Boyd (6ceb3@qlink.queensu.ca)
Tue, 18 May 1999 22:48:52 -0400

Hi,

psypher <overload@fastmail.ca> writes:

<<
...but I think you missed his point too - nothing at all can be excluded from the term "UNIVERSE". The universe, by definition, containts EVERYTHING, every potential thing, every possible thing, several impossible things, more than one incredibly improbable thing and a great deal of stuff for which we do not have tags, concepts, words or indicators. ...just because something does not exist in the set [things which can be encountered physically through the senses or measured directly] does not mean it is outside the set [universe]
>>

I have said this before (although not so directly), and Richard just said it as well, but I'll repeat it again for your benefit:

There is a difference between "universe" and "universal set". The former contains "all existing things". The latter contains "all things". Holding that the two are one and the same is a large ontological mistake.

Circles (the existant) are included in the universal set, but excluded from the universe becuase they do not exist.

ERiC