Abstraction is an interesting notion. The word itself is derived from the Latin preposition ‘ab’ meaning ‘from’ or ‘away from’ combined with the verb ‘trahere’ ‘to pull or draw’ (which also gives us our word ‘tractor’) - thus it means, literally, ‘to pull or drag away from’ so that it conveys the sense of separation, … Continue reading Why is a raven like a writing desk? The power of abstraction.
Tag: mathematics
Three Misleading Oppositions, Three Useful Axioms
There is an interesting comparison to be made between people and language: we can - especially when we are young and earnest - come to see both as standing in need of improvement, though essentially perfectible (with ourselves as the agents of perfection, naturally); only when we are older do we come to think that … Continue reading Three Misleading Oppositions, Three Useful Axioms
COMPLEAT TROWZER 