91. A search for a particular thing (e.g. my stick) is a particular kind
of search, and differs from a search for something else because of what one
does (says, thinks) while searching, not because of what one finds. – Contrast
looking for the trisection of the angle.
presumably one will do something while searching – whatever one
is searching for –
and therefore the details of what
one does – says – thinks etc.– could be said to distinguish one search from
another
on the other hand – in so far as
any search does involve doing something while searching – and if the details of what one does
while searching – are regarded as unimportant – one search is the same as
another
‘ “You were looking for him? You
can’t even have known if he was there!” (Contrast looking for the trisection of
the angle.)’?
I’m not sure there is a contrast
here –
trisecting an angle – it can be done in the special case – pi/radians
(90 degrees)
you can trisect an arbitrary angle if you cheat by using a measuring
ruler instead of a plain straight edge
but to play by the rules you aren’t allowed any marks on the straight
edge at all – it must be blank
the problem of trisection in the general case was a mathematical problem
since the Greeks
in 1837 the French mathematician Pierre Wantzel proved it was impossible
he showed that the two problems of trisecting an angel and of solving a
cubic equation are equivalent –
and he showed that only a very few cubic equations can be solved using
the straight-edge-and-compass method –
he deduced that most angles cannot be trisected
so is it too much of a stretch to
say that looking for the trisection of the angle – is the same as ‘looking for
him’ – you can’t have known if it was there?
this argument works if Wantzel’s
argument stands –
that is if his thinking and proof
are not put to question – and if no alternative view is forthcoming
regardless of that – this issue –
like any issue in mathematics –is open to question – open to doubt –
the bottom line is that when you
search for anything – you propose a state of affairs –
any such proposal is uncertain –
and in the event that what you
propose comes about – this does not change the logical status of the proposal –
and further – the event – or more
correctly – the description of it –
is open to question – open to
doubt
© greg t. charlton. 2014