Upon recommencing studies in Science, I’m struck by the human desire to classify; it seems our natural method of organising both data and concepts. I don’t think there is any surprise that Object Oriented Programming has emerged as a dominant programming paradigm because it provides a platform for designers to create classified systems in which members of classes interact in predictable ways. Seems quite a good corollary to biology to me.

This, for me, touches on two other lines of thought. Firstly, it reminds me of both Plato’s Forms and of Kant’s Categories. I’m no expert on these subjects at all, but I do find them highly appealing.

I like the idea that we possess or create abstract concepts and make sense of the world by treating our experiences as concrete instances of these concepts. From watching my children learn, and from observing my own mind, I think these abstract concepts or forms or categories are fluid: they can be adjusted and refined or subclasses can be created as necessary. They provide the framework for learning and for understanding the world.

Secondly, and perhaps more enigmatically, I am drawn again to thinking about the nature of the relation between human thought and reality. C.S. Lewis says that human reason bears a direct correlation with reality – I hope I am paraphrasing correctly. We only understand reality through logical inference, and this applies to knowledge gained through science, but also to general everyday knowledge such as the sun sets in the evening and rises in the morning. We aggregate our experiences and draw conclusions about what is likely – sometimes almost inevitably likely – to occur. Lewis’s conjecture is that the operation of our logic mirrors the operation of reality, and from this our ability to obtain knowledge is derived.

These are mere ruminations – I really ought to spend some time developing a coherent theory for myself on these topics. The results would have big implications for me and I would enjoy it. I really ought to get back to my Biology and Chemistry for the moment, but my heart remains with Epistemology and Metaphysics.

Categories · Forms · philosophy · science