"Ceci n'est pas une pipe" or whatever it is

[the_same_andrew]

...which I could of course google right now to make sure I spelled it correctly, but I'd rather offer you my imperfect memory for details.  You know that picture of the pipe?  Which has the caption meaning, "This is not a pipe"?  (I googled the image some time ago, and was particularly tickled by the primitive-graphics-rendition with the caption, "

Comments

this is not a comment. but it may be a comment's title?

[buhrger]

you spelled it correctly. by rené magritte, although i'm not recalling the title right now.

i tend to suspect that we're all oversimplifying in self-serving ways all the time.

Worries me

[the_same_andrew]

I'm coming to think of "theoretical models" and "chants for torch-weilding mobs" as being different primarily by degree of simplification. Neither topographic maps nor transit system maps are the territory.

Sure, we all simplify things so we can live; we build abstractions becausewe need them-- but when does it become oversimplification? Well, yeah.

("The Creator is that which is sought by Vyger. Vyger is that which seeks the Creator.")

[buhrger]

this is the place where, if i had a good answer to that question, i'd be providing it.

[buhrger]

possibly relevant:
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/4jcl/4JCL61.htm
?