It's about people, not logic
This sort of confession to weakness...
I *really* wish you well Angela, and I don't mind that we think rather differently about philosophy, but IF we are to discuss I go for the truth by any stylistical means, and I don't think we are equals in the respects of philosophy, logic or written argument.
of course, is only going to inflame people.
Well, that is the literal honest truth, as I see it, also said fairly, I think.
OK. Been there. Fair enough to confess this in the right context to the right person. Typically in the context of asking for help with it. A very tough problem for people like you and me. ML is a cinch by comparison!
OK. Then you need to change some wrong beliefs, beliefs unconnected to logic. If you find it hard getting started, try pretending - method acting if you like - that you believe something different. Just imagine it. Dead easy. Only as a temporary thing, you can change back after if you like.
Truth. Yes, and honesty. I accept that, that is quite obvious about you Maarten. Very high intelligence also is undeniable, of a certain type. Capable of great sensitivity, actually.
Gaps in other areas though, perhaps? Certain experiences lacking? I only say that because I too learned mathematical logic, artificial intelligence, and Godel and so forth, but I value at least as highly the other half of what I learned, from experience.
For example, as a youth at university I was extremely arrogant and forthright, I admit I was contemptuous of many of those around me. I have paused as I write because I am thinking back on the error of my ways and I am both ashamed and amused by my childishness at those times. Many stories are springing to mind, many of them carrying with them "God! (who?!) How different my life might have been if I'd never said that to her! Who would have thought we'd still be in touch 20 years later, after I'd learned how wrong I was, after she had steadily risen in my esteem as I realised that all the strong traits I was contemptuous of actually reflected her incredible unique strength, an individual trait I came to admire once I had realised what was important.
I suppose I only learned from the experience of turning down the masters in ML, leaving the safety and security of the ivory tower and going off into the real world to learn something different. One thing I learned more sharply was that if you go round upsetting people, you hurt yourself. In the real world, a crack in the mouth often offends even more, as I discovered; I couldn't behave on the street as I did at university, because if I did, then if there were any people around me at all, they would not be giving me an easy time of it. Nothing to do with logic, and arguments, I'm not talking about squares here, I'm talking about real people. Far superior breed: authentic, and all of us living together in hardship and sharing everything we had, pulling together, getting through life as a supportive unit made up of Free individuals. So much more free than their masters! Big joke!
Simple solutions. The difficulty of apologising when not in the wrong. The difficulty of managing to do that illogical act. Then the startling discovery after observing the consequences after managing to learn to do it that what happened proved (not be reasoning but by events) that I HAD been in the wrong after all! Despite being right! Simple rules, simple courtesies. So easy. Based on respect for humanity, for humans. Joy to discover in the process that I was one too, after all. Learning that comparison between people is not measured by comparing on one dimension only, of one's own choosing. Learning about the other qualities, learning which are the more important, helpful, valuable.
Proving correct strategies through happiness and harmony of people in events and situations, not through logic. Being able to do both, and not see a contradiction. Lessons from life not books.
Sorry, that's all rather patronising. Really hate to be patronising. Struggling to find any another honest response. I
think all that's why I don't tend to have such problems as this very often, but in the end it's not about that, it's just a simple wrong thing, an error.
"I don't think we are equals in the respects of philosophy, logic or written argument."
Just a nasty thing to say. It is judged. Learn. Don't say this. You believe you are smarter than her in these respects, that's evident. I have no idea, I don't know whether I am smarter than you or not using the word the way you understand it, but you may be right. But surely everybody knows - I mean, every adult I know seems to have got it - that you just don't go around saying things like that. At least, not in the real world do you get credibility by telling people you're better than them (don't come back on that by arguing details about better vs "in the respects of", that's not the point), the person concerned will have
feelings hurt on some level whoever they are, and the audience will certainly conclude that you are not superior, otherwise why would you need to say it? Humility. Respected.
What you say and what you believe are related, flexible and controllable. Say it often enough and you begin to believe it. Hope this helps.
I saw none of the backchat so I don't know what was said to wind you up, but whatever it was, big deep breaths help with that! Don't think I don't understand all that, ignorant women bosses running departments of men who know how to do computers, making it very hard to achieve anything at all. It's a temporary confusion because there IS another side to that story, but we certainly haven't got that one right at the moment. Have faith, we will figure out the next step forward.
I'm sorry, it's not a logical argument, just my impression. Hope that's enough.