1

Just Chat! / Re: Is there a universal moral standard?

« on: Today at 12:02:25 »

What makes you think that following your rules are right or good?

I don't need to. And they aren't rules but tests: I ask the question and leave the respondent to decide whether his proposed action is justifiable .

What makes ignoring or violating them wrong or bad?

They are tests, not rules, of justification (benefit/cost). 

How can someone without a wife follow your second rule, e.g. kids, bachelors? or someone with more than 1 wife?

It's never been a problem but the question can be adapted to suit the circumstances. I had an enthusiastic inventor wanting to trial his intravaginal ultrasound probe. I thought the electrical and thermal insulation were inadequate, so rather than argue about it, I said "stick it up your arse and switch it on". We never saw him again.

2

Just Chat! / Re: Is there a universal moral standard?

« on: Today at 11:55:32 »

Can your moral standards pass universality test?
Are they applicable to pre-human society?
Are they applicable to post-human society?
Are they applicable to non-human society?

1. Yes, to the extent that I haven't met anyone who disagrees with them
2, 3, 4. Probably not, but who cares?

3

Just Chat! / Re: Who are we going to fight ?

« on: Today at 11:25:36 »

OK. Let the serb genocide commence as it's against your ideals.

Congratulations on mixing three nonsequiturs and an oxymoron in a single nonsentence.
You should apply to fill the puppeteer vacancy in Downing Street, or a temporary posting to the White House.

4

Technology / Re: FLAMMABLE CLADDING BELOW 10TH FLOOR COULD BE SAFE.

« on: Today at 11:14:28 »

Like mass vaccination, it's worth considering the logistics.

On my planet, due to gravitation, we build scaffolds from the bottom upwards, then fix a hoist at the top. This means we have access to every level of the building. Then we establish a store and workshop at the bottom, and bring in whatever supplies we need to do the work. This whole setup process costs time and money, so we don't like doing it twice. Once we have fixed the top floors, we can begin to reduce the scaffold and finish somewhere in the middle. At the same time we can have a second or third fixing crew working their way up the scaffold, or down from the middle.

It's a hell of a lot cheaper and quicker than clearing the site and coming back after a public enquiry when the unprotected ground floor caught fire.

5

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Does our material reality exist because we observe it?

« on: Today at 10:55:44 »

It actually makes more sense to say that we can observe the material world because we are part of it. That gives you a consistent approach to classical physics and most of the problems of everyday life.

But as Evan has pointed out, in physics the word "observer" does not mean a conscious being. Faute de mieux it's a hangover from the days when science depended on human eyes and ears rather than machines to observe and record, and those in the know are happy to live with the anachronism rather than invent a new word. Problem is that philosophers make their living out of misunderstanding, and this is one of their favorites.

6

Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Re: What are the best links for up to date COVID-19 statistics?

« on: Today at 10:01:34 »

Agreed. Immediate vaccination of the entire UK population is a desirable objective. So let's do a tactical logistics plan and SITREP.

What we need is a magic money tree; an oven-ready factory; unlimited supplies of raw materials; a thousand refrigerated trucks; ten thousand clinical refrigerators; instant paramedic training of all military personnel; enough car parking and disabled taxis to get everyone to our instantly constructed vaccination centers; software that works; enough police officers to control the traffic and stop the riots; and a few nurses who aren't already dead or working overtime, to supervise the field operation.

What we actually have is a bunch of idiots who think their political popularity is more important than your survival.

What we did have was a rapidly declining case rate in the last two weeks, due to the masks and lockdowns that you say don't work.

What we can expect is a peak of around 100,000 cases per day by mid-January, followed by another 40,000 deaths before Easter.

7

Just Chat! / Re: Is there a universal moral standard?

« on: Yesterday at 23:30:04 »

There is no theoretical limit to what we might do in the guise of science, but a lot of what Nazi and Japanese scientists did in the 1930s and 40s, and quite a bit of what went on in the civilised world in the 1950s, would not pass either of the moral tests I have set out in this thread:

1. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

2. Would you do this to your wife?

so various august bodies in Geneva, Helsinki and elsewhere tend to exercise themselves with questions of the morality of scientific endeavour.

Science and engineering have come a long way in the last 100 years, to the point that we rarely ask "can we?" and are beginning to ask "should we?" more frequently.   

Why "universal"?  Because whilst idiots try to divide the world with politics and religion, scientists like collaborating  with other enquiring minds, no matter where they live or what their parents did on Sunday.

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Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Does our material reality exist because we observe it?

« on: Yesterday at 23:12:23 »

How is it that I can choose from only one option, or a question?

That's the new version of democracy in Hong Kong. Modelled on religious freedom in 15th century Spain, and making a comeback in several regions of the "modern" world. Get used to it. Or be prepared to die opposing it.

9

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Does our material reality exist because we observe it?

« on: Yesterday at 23:08:25 »

If the world only exists because you can see it, then the death of one person, anywhere, will cause the entire observable universe to disappear for everyone else, and the birth of one person will change the position of all the stars in the heavens. Good material for songwriters, but it doesn't quite match up to experience.   

When you say, it doesn't match up to experience, aren't you only saying that because you aren't dead yet.

No. I have seen births and deaths, and they have had no effect on the rest of the universe as I have seen it. So either I am very special,. living a complete illusion, and everyone and everything else will disappear when I die, or I am pretty ordinary and the hypothesis is bunk.

The latter explanation seems more likely. You may care to consult an expert - I'm sure that BC and a few others around here will attest to my ordinariness.

10

Just Chat! / Re: Who are we going to fight ?

« on: Yesterday at 20:52:08 »

Well there are hurricane affected places, tyrants such as the thing in French Africa, genocide in Rwanda and Bosnia, the Syrian situation, etc etc.

All problems that can be brilliantly resolved by an empty aircraft carrier and a bunch of COVID-infected Marines.

11

Just Chat! / Re: Who are we going to fight ?

« on: Yesterday at 20:48:04 »

The scientists will win on points, but the politicians will claim victory.

Henry Cooper was famously interviewed by Harry Carpenter before fighting a French opponent in France with a French referee.

Carpenter: "Will you get a fair decision?"

Cooper: "Yes, 'Arry. If I knock him out, I'll probably get a draw."
 

12

Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Re: What are the best links for up to date COVID-19 statistics?

« on: Yesterday at 19:57:03 »

Not the morons in government but experts in the civil service and ethics committees, who fast-tracked every possible test, treatment and vaccine as quickly as possible. I was there.

You can't "see the results in 14 days" if you haven't got a reasonable approximation to a finished product, and it's probably a good idea to prove that it won't kill a mouse or a pig before dosing a thousand human volunteers.

The only contribution made by UK politicians was to pretend it wasn't a problem,  turn it into a political football instead of solving it, and refuse to let competent laboratories do any testing.

Now we have proof of efficacy, it is still going to take some months to produce any of the vaccines in significant quantity, and then wait for the politicians to screw up its distribution. The real fun will begin in February when today's absurd political decision to put Christmas before common sense turns into the Third Wave of fatalities. Laws should be made for wise men, for the guidance of others, not by idiots for the illusory pleasure of other idiots. Hopefully there will be enough emergency service personnel and health professionals  left in the new year to clear up the mess.   

13

Technology / Re: FLAMMABLE CLADDING BELOW 10TH FLOOR COULD BE SAFE.

« on: Yesterday at 19:41:35 »

Pretty obviously, the higher you go, the longer it takes to get out of the building, so regardless of the length of ladders, you need to minimse  the risk of fire at every level. Not much point in leaving an asbestos capsule on the 20th floor just before the building collapses, only to find that the lowest 10 floors are a furnace by the time you reach them.

White asbestos is relatively safe to handle and not a problem as long as it is not disturbed, and there are other incombustible materials like rockwool that can be used for internal cladding  and cavity insulation.   

Not sure about Grenfell, but I understand that the primary retardant was supposed to be sprinklers, not men with ladders who have to drive to the scene though London traffic, and the sprinklers weren't up to the job at any level.

14

Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology / Re: Does our material reality exist because we observe it?

« on: Yesterday at 18:31:29 »

If the world only exists because you can see it, then the death of one person, anywhere, will cause the entire observable universe to disappear for everyone else, and the birth of one person will change the position of all the stars in the heavens. Good material for songwriters, but it doesn't quite match up to experience.   

I came across the double-slit experiment because of a book.... So matter can be material and immaterial.

Please don't recommend the book to anyone else.

Science is about humility, philosophy is about vanity. Stuff does what it does, and the object of physics is to produce consistent mathematical models of what actually happens so that other folk like engineers and chemists can do useful things with real materials. The double slit experiment just shows that you need a more complicated model than billiard balls to describe how small things behave.

As for the impact on daily life, if it were not for the inherent indeterminacy of quantum phenomena, the universe would be one very dense lump and there would be no daily life.. 

15

Just Chat! / Re: Is there a universal moral standard?

« on: Yesterday at 15:37:14 »

How typical of a philosopher, to fill space with pompous drivel that he doesn't even believe.

Why have today’s academic ethicists failed so miserably to sell the merits of their research?

Possibly because there are none. When sitting in judgement on an ethics committee, I tend to ask the applicant "would you do this to your wife?" and ask the rest of the committee "what would the man in the street think of us if we agreed to this?".  Beats me how anyone can make an academic career out of it.

16

COVID-19 / Re: Should you get a vaccine if you already had COVID?

« on: Yesterday at 15:23:43 »

As to which "front runner" - I'd go for the first to reach me. The probability of reinfection increases every day, so why wait?

17

Just Chat! / Re: The dumbest aspect of the British political system

« on: Yesterday at 11:29:54 »

GCHQ is by far the most invasive surveillance organisation on the planet.

When I was on the Special Branch watch list (dangerous radical in favor of nuclear disarmament) the nuisance phone calls stopped. Sadly, the task of surveillance has been passed to GCHQ who are much less diligent. I'd happily pay for that service to be reinstated.

Seriously, though, the case of Katharine Gun shows how fragile the power of the establishment is.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/6780454/david-kelly-family-doubt-suicide/ shows that "they" occasionally get away with it, as with Hilda Murrell, but whether due to incompetence or actual scruples, such cases are rare.

18

Just Chat! / Re: Is there a universal moral standard?

« on: Yesterday at 11:11:40 »

Let's make your substitution.

"An altruist is a person who declares that any action taken for the benefit of others is good, and any action taken for one’s own benefit is evil."

Have you ever heard a sane individual say that? Laying down your life for another may be the ultimate act of altruism, but not eating when you are hungry, or not avoiding a charging elephant (because that would not benefit anyone else) is the inaction of an idiot.

Everyday altruism includes turning up at first aid or water lifesaving classes. And what is the first lesson they teach you? Don't endanger yourself. One hand for the ship, one for yourself. Make sure your car is between the approaching traffic and the casualty. Switch off at the mains.  Wear a mask. And on and on..... 

19

Cells, Microbes & Viruses / Re: What are the best links for up to date COVID-19 statistics?

« on: Yesterday at 10:54:32 »

My point exactly - you fill in  your form before getting the jab.

Not sure if a PAPERWOK would be much use anyway. You can boil water in a paper kettle but the poor conductivity of dry paper won't allow you to stir-fry. And sooner or later somebody would call the immunisation certificate a JABBERWOK, thus locating HM government's worldbeating program firmly in the Looking-glass Wonderland its ministers inhabit. 

[Note for US readers - it's a quotation from a text you may know better as Malice in Blunderland]

20

COVID-19 / Re: Do we need an international certificate of COVID vaccination?

« on: Yesterday at 10:46:44 »

A brilliant idea. Preferably a bar coded card that can be referenced to source and date of vaccination. Apps are all very well for people who need an electronic life substitute, but my phone just makes calls and texts.

Bus and taxi drivers would do well to check your vax card before letting you in to their fertile public environment, and an annual check on schoolkids might prevent a resurgence.