Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
- TryingMyBest
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Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
Once the equations are programmed in, you would just have to tell it to solve for "beauty" (or "define beauty") and everything remotely connected to "beauty" would branch out into more and more ideas until all the beautiful things in the world are part of the definition. If this has been done I want to see the results visually if possible. If it has not been done then it needs to be. A computer program could "solve for truth" and could answer philosophical questions, like what is truth, love, or beauty. [I think AI will be a good philosophy tutor in the future.]
If nobody is working on this problem, then PM me and we can work on it together!
- LuckyR
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
- Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."
I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
- TryingMyBest
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
Answering your second question: The equations are the mathematical truth-statements as reflected by the definitional statements. These definitions would have to follow mathematically-interoperable logical English-grammar syntax rules so that it is more than just a collection of words. (This could be short-circuited by analyzing a thesaurus instead of a dictionary, although some specificity of meaning might be sacrificed.)
So, yes, the equations are the respective definitions of the words, altered only to capture English syntax.
Answering your first question: "Once the equations are programmed in" means that each word is assigned its mathematical meaning, while each variable remains a variable. Having all the definitions turned into equations lets you "solve" (or define) any one variable (word) apart from the others, so long as the word under question is used elsewhere in the dictionary. (This would not define, nor should it logically be able to define, new words.)
- Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
I believe this exists already. For example, you can go to Google and type in "define:X" where X is the word you want defined. Then the definition of X will be displayed. That is just one example. There are many online dictionaries which can give you the definition/"equation" of a word. You enter X (the word) and the online dictionary outputs the definition.TryingMyBest wrote: ↑December 17th, 2018, 4:03 pmSo, yes, the equations are the respective definitions of the words, altered only to capture English syntax.
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."
I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
- TryingMyBest
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
By temporarily deleting the equation of "beauty" and asking the computer to generate a new one, the computer would be tasked with encompassing everything that beauty is, that is all references based on other definitions, and derive a new definition for the term. I think this definition would have some similarities and some differences with the original definition, but I sincerely doubt they would be equivalent. This could be done countless times with different words until "new" associations are uncovered. Perhaps truer and truer definitions would emerge with each iteration of this process.
Taking it to the next logical step: The dictionary is supposed to represent the truth about meaning. This could be visualized by assigning a 3-dimensional node to each word and by allowing the nodes to move in 3-D space as they are attracted to (other nodes that correspond to) their meaning. At first, all words would be given random (x,y,z) coordinates but words of similar meanings would quickly coalesce and form physically intriguing structures. Each connection to other words would serve as a level of attraction between the two nodes. I think that after a bit of time, the simulation would balance and there would be structures of meaning floating and swirling and interacting with other structures of meaning. Perhaps an entire structure would represent Reality while another structure would represent that which is false??? Perhaps virtues and values would find distinct places and be able to be categorized more easily. Perhaps emotions could be quantified. Perhaps much more could be learned. To visualize the true connections of all the words in the dictionary is a powerful tool. If I knew how I would build it. I'm sure the folks at Google have the technical expertise, of course, they already have the equations, I just wish someone would build this tool so that I, and others, might better understand the nature of Truth by definition.
We describe our world by using words. I see value in letting those words and definitions work for us to that we may uncover Truth that we weren't even looking for.
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
I'm no expert on language interpretation algorithms, but what you're describing in this post sounds a little bit like a neural network system for the interpretation of language. Possibly similar to systems that have already been developed.TryingMyBest wrote:By temporarily deleting the equation of "beauty" and asking the computer to generate a new one, the computer would be tasked with encompassing everything that beauty is, that is all references based on other definitions, and derive a new definition for the term...
But rather than analysing a static, out-of-date-the-moment-it-is-printed dictionary, a system like that can presumably make much more progress by analysing the ways in which words are actually used by people in real communication. In this case, there would be no concept of a dictionary being "solved" because the meanings of words, in use, are continually shifting. As you've described in your second paragraph, the clouds of words would float around in "word-space" as their meanings and associations with other words gradually changed.
It would be interesting to write software to create a visual representation of this - a dynamically changing 3 dimensional word-cloud that constantly trawls the internet consuming word associations.
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Ne ... ranslation
It's an interesting subject. I bought a book about Deep Learning a while ago with the intention of doing a bit of research on it. It's called "Deep Learning (Adaptive Computation and Machine Learning Series)" and looks promising. I definitely intend to get around to reading it soon.
- Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
No, it doesn't.TryingMyBest wrote: ↑December 18th, 2018, 3:43 pm The google define function merely regurgitates the equation that was initially programmed in.
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."
I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
- TryingMyBest
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
I don't mean to quibble with you about this but Google uses the Oxford English Pocket Dictionary for its results. https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/ is the source. The definitions exactly match.Scott wrote: ↑December 19th, 2018, 11:25 amNo, it doesn't.TryingMyBest wrote: ↑December 18th, 2018, 3:43 pm The google define function merely regurgitates the equation that was initially programmed in.
If there is a dictionary that populates its own definitions from a dictionary that has been "solved", I'd very much like the reference. I think it would be a great tool for philosophy.
- Eckhart Aurelius Hughes
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
In any case, TryingMyBest, I believe you are right; I was incorrect to state or imply that Google's define function (through Oxford) does not primarily depend on a human-developed input and/or verification of definitions of words, but that's a moot point.
Scott wrote:What do you mean by "once the equations are programmed in"? What are the "equations"; just the respective definitions of the words?
TryingMyBest wrote:So, yes, the equations are the respective definitions of the words, altered only to capture English syntax.
Scott wrote:I believe this exists already. For example, you can go to Google and type in "define:X" where X is the word you want defined. Then the definition of X will be displayed. That is just one example. There are many online dictionaries which can give you the definition/"equation" of a word. You enter X (the word) and the online dictionary outputs the definition.
That's what we're talking about: the "programming in" of equations (a.k.a. word definitions) so that you can input the word/"variable" and get the definition/"equation".TryingMyBest wrote:The google define function merely regurgitates the equation that was initially programmed in.
That programming in of equations has been done by Oxford and others, and so you can go to countless online dictionaries or Google and type in X and the computer returns the definition of X.
"The mind is a wonderful servant but a terrible master."
I believe spiritual freedom (a.k.a. self-discipline) manifests as bravery, confidence, grace, honesty, love, and inner peace.
- Mark1955
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
I'd suggest that dictionaries are like holy books, read around a bit and you'll find one that you like, but for much the same reason oyu'll never get the others to agree that one is 'right'.TryingMyBest wrote: ↑December 19th, 2018, 2:13 pmIf there is a dictionary that populates its own definitions from a dictionary that has been "solved", I'd very much like the reference. I think it would be a great tool for philosophy.
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
- Intellectual_Savnot
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
- JosephM
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Re: Can the dictionary be solved by mathematics?
(The Truth IS, that which actually is , and verbal truth , IS that which is said ,attempting to abide what actually exists.)
Words are ballpark approximations which depend upon perspective.
So in that vein, yes, it would be possible if everyone cooperated , to arrive at a highly standardized version of English, yet the truth itself is going to forever be imperfectly defined.
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