Thread: I ain't superstitious, but a black cat crossed my trail ..... Poll

Okay, well if we (as the educated gentlemen that we are) are going to chalk up superstition to mind over matter, and that our beliefs and perceptions are altering how we see the world thus reinforcing our already incorrect beliefs ... Then I have to pull the trump card.

Homunculus... That's right, I went there.

Cheers,
JackofDiamonds

Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

Okay, well if we (as the educated gentlemen that we are) are going to chalk up superstition to mind over matter, and that our beliefs and perceptions are altering how we see the world thus reinforcing our already incorrect beliefs ... Then I have to pull the trump card.

Homunculus... That's right, I went there.

Cheers,
JackofDiamonds

Jack:
No need to whip out fallacious arguments. I've already explained superstition. It is non-contingent behavioural reinforcement. If I do "something" (behaviour) and then a desirable effect results, I've been reinforced (either positively or negatively). This reinforcement increases the probability that, in similar or identical circumstances, I will reproduce the "something" behaviour again in the future. Even if the "something" (behaviour) has absolutely nothing to do with the reinforcement, ex. dancing to get the rain to stop.
I do like that you dared to whip out Chomsky's argument, though! It does work somewhat w/models of vision, if I recall.

Originally Posted by mapleleafalumnus

Jack:
No need to whip out fallacious arguments. I've already explained superstition. It is non-contingent behavioural reinforcement. If I do "something" (behaviour) and then a desirable effect results, I've been reinforced (either positively or negatively). This reinforcement increases the probability that, in similar or identical circumstances, I will reproduce the "something" behaviour again in the future. Even if the "something" (behaviour) has absolutely nothing to do with the reinforcement, ex. dancing to get the rain to stop.
I do like that you dared to whip out Chomsky's argument, though! It does work somewhat w/models of vision, if I recall.

Yes, yes. I know. I was just trying to be devil's advocate. Being a student of psychology I have had years of what you are saying taught to me in classes, but even when I know I hear the right answer I always ask the professor "why?". Homunculus was something I encountered my last year of college that if believed, kind of answers any freewill or rational behavior question, though rather loosely.
Just couldn't believe that proper rationalization was going to win so quickly. I attempted to stir the pot and merely kicked the same stew around in a circle... Oh well

Fancy words for a simple thing called "common sense". (Now regulated by the government...)

Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

Homunculus... That's right, I went there.

Gentlemen ..... please refrain from bringing sexual preference into this conversation .....

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Gentlemen ..... please refrain from bringing sexual preference into this conversation .....

O.o?! I think I have been misunderstood... It's a little man, in your head who makes you do what you do and think what you think. Crude description but best I can do.

Eh, I guess it's all the same. My apologies. Won't happen again.

Originally Posted by JackofDiamonds

O.o?! I think I have been misunderstood... It's a little man, in your head who makes you do what you do and think what you think. Crude description but best I can do.

Eh, I guess it's all the same. My apologies. Won't happen again.

Nah, your post is fine ... I ain't as dumb as my post made me look ...... see this post here for an explanation ...

Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

Fancy words for a simple thing called "common sense". (Now regulated by the government...)

"Common sense" really isn't very common.
"Common sense" is a culture's collective prejudices.

My sense of humor is rather dry, I meant my response to be comical ... I suck at conveying emotion through text. I should play online poker.

As for "common sense", I only believe it existed when Thomas Payne wrote an article for the public.

Actually, it was a pamphlet.