tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post8383788881294759757..comments2024-03-23T04:01:39.348-04:00Comments on Understanding Society: Revisiting PopperDan Littlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15953897221283103880noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-28421986403776507652018-05-21T01:20:51.422-04:002018-05-21T01:20:51.422-04:00Haven't read the work itself yet, but is it po...Haven't read the work itself yet, but is it possible that Popper's characterization of the philosophy of historical materialism is colored by Lenin's attempts to predict the course of revolution through the advanced countries in Europe? There's a dramatic irony in reading his predictions in <i>State and Revolution</i>; certainly there may have been some wishful thinking involved. But of course making predictions is a necessary task for any leader, you can't really fault him for that, nor characterize an entire methodology based on a few instances of malapplication.<br />I suppose an interesting question might be what the difference is between applying a theory in a written assay versus enacting it in political praxis.<br />Apologies if this is incoherent and meandering; I am but a sleepy undergrad, writing extempore.Sashanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-82312324380084349812009-08-28T03:18:49.951-04:002009-08-28T03:18:49.951-04:00Reliable predictions can still be made about n-bod...Reliable predictions can still be made about n-body systems through the use of simulation-- without solving the n-body system. Climate modeling is effective without "solving" the climate system in some closed-form equation.<br /><br />In fact, n-body systems are simulated in video games all the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-87103665036848165782009-08-27T23:48:11.882-04:002009-08-27T23:48:11.882-04:00Q, thanks; of course you're right. Correction...Q, thanks; of course you're right. Correction noted!Dan Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15953897221283103880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4058766287077382431.post-13643255117392208452009-08-27T22:48:04.981-04:002009-08-27T22:48:04.981-04:00Don't you mean the "perihelion of Mercury...Don't you mean the "perihelion of Mercury"?Quiddityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08543124816916606452noreply@blogger.com