December 12, 2006

Making a Friend of Horror

Thanks to tim for pointing out this excellent article by (the somewhat erratic) Ralph Peters, providing an opportunity to discuss the pertinence of Clauswitzeanism - and the 'Western way of war' more generally - to the harsh and frustrating landscape of WWIV.

This challenge (also singled out by tim) is worthy of slow, excruciating attention:

We discount the value of ferocity —as a practical tool and as a deterrent. But war's immutable law —proven yet again in Iraq—is that those unwilling to pay the butcher's bill up front will pay it with compound interest in the end.

December 11, 2006

Diagonalization 1.

On the comment thread below CAB (whose moniker perfectly mimics a Goedelian joke, but leave that aside for now) raises a series of questions about the nature of diagonal arguments, their relation to Cantor’s classical example, and also their centrality to hyperstitional thinking. Because these issues have never be systematically explored within the confines of this blog or its obvious precursors, it seems prudent to address them in an exploratory spirit, without rushing to premature conclusions.

No discussion of diagonal argument can bypass the Cantorian example, so I will very briefly rehearse it here, with minimal topical context.

Georg Cantor employs diagonal argument to rigorously consolidate a specific mathematical discovery: that of infinite sets higher than the lowest order of infinity (denoted “aleph-null” coded here “A0”). A0, the smallest transfinite cardinality or lowest of actual infinities, is equal in size to the sets of Rationals, Integers, Naturals and Primes, as well as those of cubes, squares or triangular numbers and (very (very ( ))) many others besides. It is the size of every countable but nontermninating series, each of which can be mapped onto any other, so that – for instance and counter-intuitively – the set of all even numbers is exactly equal to the set of all Naturals, with both equalling A0.
A0 + 1 = A0
2 x A0 = A0.
A0 x A0 = A0. And this is scarcely to begin (since A0 is not only infinitely larger than itself, included within itself infinitely, but this “infinitude” must itself be comprehended recursively (as A0)).
However, enough of that for now, since infinity is only indirectly the matter at stake.

Cantor innovated diagonal argument as a procedure to test denumerability (‘countability’) among infinite series, seeking to demonstrate that a nondenumerable realm of infinities existed above the scale of A0. By proving that even the most exhaustive matrix of countable numbers misses rigorously (if abstractly) identifiable numbers, diagonalism punctures the outer limit of A0, opening it onto vistas beyond. Cantorian diagonalism is an abstract procedure, meaning that, although its concrete execution is impractical, it is evidently realizable in conception and can therefore be considered operative in a domain of pure theory.

Arithmeticians have long been confident that every number can be expressed through an infinite decimal expansion. Perhaps most obviously, this might be a string of zeroes (0 = 0.000…), but a slightly more elaborate example is also available. Since 1/3 x 3 = 0.999..., the arithmetical case for the perfect equality of such an infinite recurrence and its summarization as unity (0.999… = 1) has seemed incontestible (qabbalists must of course remain unconvinced, but that is a matter for another occasion). This equality makes even the most thoroughly domesticated integer equivalent in principle to a ragged-ended fractional series without term. From this it follows that the matrix of an infinite set of cardinality A0 should be considered no greater than the segmentarity of each item in the matrix. Irrespective of modulus, there is a place-value slot at least implicitly available in each of the infinite numbers in an infinite countable series to echo the scale of the series, making the set of elements 2-dimensional (with equal cardinalities for each dimension (macrocosm = microcosm)).

Any segment of the number line has a cardinality of A0, so the series of Rationals 0.000… to 0.999… can be considered an adequate (indeed ((( ) hyper-)extravagantly) ample) map of any denumerable infinity. Selecting this segment technically simplifies the diagonal operation.

Finally, selecting modulus-2 for the demonstration – modulus being an entirely arbitrary aspect of diagonal procedure – minimizes semiotic distraction.

Everything is now in place to execute an abstract diagonalism and make intelligible contact with a higher infinity.

1) Construct the A0 matrix as an infinite series of numbers from 0.000… to 0.111… each with infinite fractional expansion.
2) Manifest the ordinal (compressive) diagonals within the matrix, whereby the nth place of each number correlates to the nth number in the series. Each number thus provides an abstract map or isomorphic (microcosmic) fractalization of the whole.
3) Re-trace the compressive diagonal to systematically produce an anomaly exceeding the denumerated infinity. In the anomalous number, the first digit differs from that of the first number, the second digit differs from that of the second number … the nth digit differs from that of the nth number (through simple alternation in a binary modulus). The resulting diagonal monstrosity must necessarily be distinct from any existing member of the A0 matrix – however comprehensively the matrix has been constructed. Even God – of whatever transcendental sublimity – is incapable of denumerating a set that can resist diagonalization.

Lest the power of this method escape comprehension (an inevitability), permit me to reiterate: Diagonalization methodically produces monsters that elude the recognition of God. This is a matter of perfect mathematical rigour, and thus lies beyond reasonable controversy.

[Whilst CAB’s questions have yet to be seriously addressed, further development of this discussion must be postponed beyond an interval of sleep. To be continued (no pun intended) … For original CAB comments see especially Sore Losers tangents thread 12:11:06 1:24 am and 3:36 am]

December 04, 2006

Sore Losers

[This is no more than a chat thread posing as a facile rant, or vice versa, so don’t get your hopes up (as if that’s likely by this stage).]

I’d been meaning for a while to set out some remarks about how the expression ‘sore losers’ perfectly encapsulates the leftist mentality, in innumerable respects. The primary stimulus was the growing tendency for leftist politicians never to accept defeat, starting with the Gore petulance of 2000, and mostly recently manifested by the Obrador update (adding even more in the way of outright lying and generalized leftist reality disintegration).

But then the Sore Loser philosophy came to seem more basic. Isn’t the left at its most philosophical a rallying cry to the losers of the world: Be Sore! Never concede that one’s own mistakes, shortcomings or sheer bad luck could ever be the cause of misfortune. Blame the fortunate. Hate the winners. You have nothing to lose but your dignity (well, OK, actually you sanity too). Isn’t that the left in it’s Platonic essence?

Then we received this little gem (the troll shield evidently malfunctioning):

By the way, nick, did the hear that the Republicans got their fat arses beat?

I noticed you seemed to be in denial.

You have not my sympathies, and you fully deserve this.

Hey, by the way, BUSH fired RUMSFELD unceremoniously the next day. Did you hear that? Isn't that something? The world didn't revolve around you and your bloodthirsty ways.

artist | 12.02.06 - 6:12 pm

Study that for a moment.
Let us pass rapidly over the complete absence of analysis or structured argumentation, whilst also mostly ignoring the hysterical personalization and distinctively trollish sense of obsessive surveillance (hinting at something not unreasonably described as germinal stalking).
Also leave aside the final sentence, in which the signs of genuine (if comparatively inane) psychosis are quite clearly evident.
Finally, try not to deride the moniker ‘artist’ whose manifest piteousnesses would soon amount to a brutal ad hominem (let us imagine instead that, perhaps, this unfortunate individual really is a creator of rare talent, merely masked as a mass-manufactured leftoid half-wit).

Concentrate instead on the basic implication. Why haven’t I started screaming and threatening to move to Canada (from Shanghai, hah ha)? Why haven’t I accused the Democrats of systematic fraud? Why haven’t I filled the blog with sobbing descriptions of how gutted and traumatized I feel due to the political failure of Bush Republicanism?
In fact, why isn’t anybody on the right throwing a leftist-style full-on hissy fit?

Maybe it’s
- because we genuinely celebrate democracy, even when it comes up stupid.
- because we like to see governments disconcerted and thrown out of power, with the sole qualification that we worry about the guys moving in.
- because we didn’t actually like Bush very much, although we still think the world dodged two bullets with Gore and Kerry (besides, Bush is still in power “I noticed” and will in fact NEVER LOSE A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION (that must hurt)).
- because we love America (as the world’s pre-eminent free society) even when it acts like a bong-zonked hippy, and, most fundamentally
- because we’re not sore losers (‘cos if we were, we’d be leftists).