Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site celerity.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!hplabs!sdcrdcf!sdcsvax!celerity!ps From: ps@celerity.UUCP (Pat Shanahan) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: Hurting the other by a "no" Message-ID: <341@celerity.UUCP> Date: Fri, 30-Aug-85 17:07:02 EDT Article-I.D.: celerity.341 Posted: Fri Aug 30 17:07:02 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 5-Sep-85 07:25:49 EDT References: <5557@cbscc.UUCP> <591@unc.UUCP> <1397@pyuxd.UUCP> <1310@utcsri.UUCP> <1487@peora.UUCP> <1335@utcsri.UUCP> Organization: Celerity Computing, San Diego, Ca. Lines: 34 ... > > If you insist on picking absurd ideas to believe in then my > philosophy does appear to wither. BUT (again) I still challenge anyone > to PROVE to me that even the most absurd ideas are TRULY impossible. > I agree that, within our common experience it seems impossible (for example) > to fly unaided like Superman. Is it truly impossible? Perhaps some day > some scientific discovery will demonstrate that we all have a latent > flying ability. Absurd you say? Well, perhaps, but I would rather think > that the reason I can't fly is because I don't know how -- rather than because > it is impossible. > > Ray Allen > utcsri!ray I once had a great idea for a really valuable program. It would examine any computer program, and determine whether it would terminate properly or not. This is not some theoretical excercise. It would be VERY useful. Unfortunately, it is also mathematically impossible. Also, consider you own message. It contains a challenge - to name a truly impossible task. Suppose I select as my objective meeting that challenge. Can I succeed or not? If I can succeed, then there has to be at least one message I could type that would convince you that I had met you challenge. If on the other hand, I cannot succeed, no matter how hard I try, you challenge is in itself such an impossible task. Should this discussion really be in net.philosophy? -- ps (Pat Shanahan) uucp : {decvax!ucbvax || ihnp4 || philabs}!sdcsvax!celerity!ps arpa : sdcsvax!celerity!ps@nosc