Re: US Presidents; an outside view WAS: Any comments? (Evolution - was Answers to Pet

> Consider the use of a stick as a crutch in order to keep weight off a
> twisted ankle so that a hunter might heal and be able to supply the tribe
> with food.

Which may also be done without the stick, by sitting on a rock, or the
ground.

> Being able to see a stick in this manner adds value to it

It doesn't add value to the stick. It's still just a stick.  Putting
padding on the end and a rubber tip on it may add value, using it does
not add value.

> makes it useful to both the individual and the society; are you saying
> that the first person who saw that this could be done consumed enough
> resources to use up any gain this added function has ever given the
> species?

It isn't the stick that gave the added function, it is just a stick, it
is the brain that used the resource in a novel way.

In article <1145992260.580774.193280@y43g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
Richard <riplin@Azonic.co.nz> wrote: 
>
>Which may also be done without the stick, by sitting on a rock, or the
>ground.

That there may be other ways to accomplish the end, Mr Plinston, does not
rule out that another, different method has been found.

> 
>
>It doesn't add value to the stick. It's still just a stick.

Are you arguing for a sort of inherent/absolute value, Mr Plinston?  I'm
sorry I did not make it clear, 'value' as I am using it is a matter of
interpretation; metallic silver, for example, when it is just sort of
sitting around, has no value except for that which humans give to it.  In
that the stick can now be seen as having another set of attributes - in
addition, say, to being potential kindling it is now a potential way for
an injured hunter to supply himself and the group with food - it now has
more value.

>Putting
>padding on the end and a rubber tip on it may add value, using it does
>not add value.

Ahhhhh... 'using it does not add value'.  We seem to have *very* different
assumptions when it comes to such; a conclusion drawn from your assertion
might be that using books has no value.

> 
>
>It isn't the stick that gave the added function, it is just a stick, it
>is the brain that used the resource in a novel way.

In this instance, Mr Plinston, the brain can do all it wants... but until
someone has a stick of the right attributes (diameter, length, etc.) then
the injured hunter sits at home and the potential for additional protein
goes wasted.

DD

On 26 Apr 2006 11:39:49 -0700, "Richard" <riplin@Azonic.co.nz> wrote:

>Using a book does not add value _to_the_book_. In fact it detracts
>value as can easily be seen by the fact that used books sold in garage
>sales, or even on amazon, fetch much reduced prices compared to new
>unused books.

A used CoBOL manual is much more valuable than one that just takes up
space.

A book that I paid $20 for, and read, and then sold for $10 has given
me my $20 value, and then gave somebody else a $10 value.   I still
have my worth from that book even though I no longer have the book.

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On Wed, 26 Apr 2006 17:12:36 -0400, Donald Tees
<donald_tees@sympatico.ca> wrote:

>I thnk it short-sighted to deny knowledge a "value". I also disagree
>that the world is zero sum. Perhaps the universe is, but even that is
>debatable. The only way that universe can be is a zero sum is if you
>deny the possibility of creation. That means both a eternal universe(has
>always existed, always will exist), and an existing universe in which
>nothing can be created. The evidence does not bear witness to that.

Or if there's the possibility of destruction.    There's some evidence
for both possibilities.   (that matter/energy is being created and
that matter/energy is being destroyed).    It's too early to say we
know for sure about the whole universe.

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