OK, the problem I was getting at is that adopting a definition usually has consequences that make some definitions better than others, thus not exempting them from criticism, with implication of their usefulness still possible to refute.
I agree that definitions (and expansions of the language) can be useful or counterproductive, and hence are not immune from criticism. But still, I don’t think it makes sense to play the Bayesian game here and attach probabilities to different definitions/languages being correct. (Rather like how one can’t apply Bayesian reasoning in order to decide between ‘theory 1’ and ‘theory 2’ in my branching vs probability post.) Therefore, I don’t think it makes sense to calculate expected utilities by taking a weighted average over each of the possible stances one can take in the mind-body problem.
Gosh, that’s not useful in practice far more widely than that, and not at all what I suggested. I object to exempting any and all decisions from potential to be incorrect, no matter what tools for noticing the errors are available or practical or worth applying.
OK, the problem I was getting at is that adopting a definition usually has consequences that make some definitions better than others, thus not exempting them from criticism, with implication of their usefulness still possible to refute.
I agree that definitions (and expansions of the language) can be useful or counterproductive, and hence are not immune from criticism. But still, I don’t think it makes sense to play the Bayesian game here and attach probabilities to different definitions/languages being correct. (Rather like how one can’t apply Bayesian reasoning in order to decide between ‘theory 1’ and ‘theory 2’ in my branching vs probability post.) Therefore, I don’t think it makes sense to calculate expected utilities by taking a weighted average over each of the possible stances one can take in the mind-body problem.
Gosh, that’s not useful in practice far more widely than that, and not at all what I suggested. I object to exempting any and all decisions from potential to be incorrect, no matter what tools for noticing the errors are available or practical or worth applying.