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Friday, October 08, 2004

What I Say versus What I Mean

I've just examined some of the limitations of "truth", so you can take any of my future comments as opinions only. That's the truth.

When we attempt to state the "truth", we mean we are trying to give an accurate account of what happened, what is happening, and what will probably happen, given our abilities to convert our perceptions into meaningful language. Our pain is real to us, but "I really hurt" may not begin to describe the truth of what I feel. As we move from the immediate, sensory-based, experiences to the abstract, the limitations of our language make an accurate description of the "truth" very difficult. Ever wonder why scientists like mathematics? As a symbolic language with specific rules, it is a very comfortable medium for expressing objectively their observations. But mathematics is limited in its ability to communicate human perception (or human perception is limited with regard to what mathematics describe).

All language is symbolic, but "symbolic logic" is an attempt to rigorously define the usage of symbols so that can only mean one thing. I remember long before I had even heard of Fortran or Cobal, that I took a class in symbolic logic that featured a book by Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) called the "Tractatus". It was an attempt to create a language of purely logical statements using symbolic logic. I was a sophomore and this was a senior/graduate level class, but the concept had a strong appeal to me. I was pretty good at math and science and the book came fairly easy for me. I easily aced the final, not only by being able to use the symbolic language in context, but to also explain its very distinct limitation (didn't work at all with the subjective and emotional realms). In addition to the Tractatus, I also took a class in symbolic logic... just for the fun of it... never expecting it would be of any use to me. 6-8 years later while I was working on my Masters in Operations Management (logistics, PERT, CPM, etc.) I took my first class in computer programing... Fortran (Fortran 1 followed by Fortran 2 in the early '70s). I was astounded: Herr Wittgenstein was writing computer code using symbolic logic. Well, lets say it was close enough to Fortran that I had no problem with the logical construct of that language.

These studies also taught me an important lesson: logic is logical, but never equate it with "truth" or "meaning". In no way could it express the beauty of a sunset over water or the love in a wife's glance. Language, even the most logical, has its limitations. Language is used to communicate an approximation of life's experiences and personal perception, as well as for communication of constructs... logical, psychological, scientific, etc.

So symbolic logic allows perfect communication within a very limited sphere; natural (ordinary) language allows imperfect communication over a very broad spectrum. "Truth" and "meaning" are imperfectly communicated in ordinary language and not applicable to symbolic languages (although mathematicians might argue that mathematical equations are "true" statements.. I would argue that "valid" is more appropriate..., but while an important point, also a very limited point for most of us).

Consequently, when this discussion turns to morality, ethics, right, wrong, good, evil, Bush, Kerry, sex, and other areas of great consequence, be forewarned that the discussion will be held in ordinary language, not symbolic language, and will be subject to imperfections ... not mine, of course.

Okay, I just threw in some gratuitous sex to keep you interested.

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There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.
Henry Louis Mencken (1880–1956)
“The Divine Afflatus,” A Mencken Chrestomathy, chapter 25, p. 443 (1949)
... and one could add "not all human problems really are."
It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are.
- O. Henry
... The Government is on course for an embarrassing showdown with the European Union, business groups and environmental charities after refusing to guarantee that billions of pounds of revenue it stands to earn from carbon-permit trading will be spent on combating climate change.
The Independent (UK)

Tracking Interest Rates

Tracking Interest Rates

FEDERAL RESERVE & HOUSING

SEARCH BLOG: FEDERAL RESERVE for full versions... or use the Blog Archive pulldown menu.

February 3, 2006 Go back to 1999-2000 and see what the Fed did. They are following the same pattern for 2005-06. If it ain't broke, the Fed will fix it... and good!
August 29, 2006 The Federal Reserve always acts on old information... and is the only cause of U.S. recessions.
December 5, 2006 Last spring I wrote about what I saw to be a sharp downturn in the economy in the "rustbelt" states, particularly Michigan.
March 28, 2007
The Federal Reserve sees no need to cut interest rates in the light of adverse recent economic data, Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
The Fed chairman said ”to date, the incoming data have supported the view that the current stance of policy is likely to foster sustainable economic growth and a gradual ebbing in core inflation”.

July 21, 2007 My guess is that if there is an interest rate change, a cut is more likely than an increase. The key variables to be watching at this point are real estate prices and the inventory of unsold homes.
August 11, 2007 I suspect that within 6 months the Federal Reserve will be forced to lower interest rates before housing becomes a black hole.
September 11, 2007 It only means that the overall process has flaws guaranteeing it will be slow in responding to changes in the economy... and tend to over-react as a result.
September 18, 2007 I think a 4% rate is really what is needed to turn the economy back on the right course. The rate may not get there, but more cuts will be needed with employment rates down and foreclosure rates up.
October 25, 2007 How long will it be before I will be able to write: "The Federal Reserve lowered its lending rate to 4% in response to the collapse of the U.S. housing market and massive numbers of foreclosures that threaten the banking and mortgage sectors."
November 28, 2007 FED VICE CHAIRMAN DONALD KOHN
"Should the elevated turbulence persist, it would increase the possibility of further tightening in financial conditions for households and businesses," he said.

"Uncertainties about the economic outlook are unusually high right now," he said. "These uncertainties require flexible and pragmatic policymaking -- nimble is the adjective I used a few weeks ago."
http://www.reuters.com/

December 11, 2007 Somehow the Fed misses the obvious.
fed_rate_moves_425_small.gif
[Image from: CNNMoney.com]
December 13, 2007 [from The Christian Science Monitor]
"The odds of a recession are now above 50 percent," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "We are right on the edge of a recession in part because of the Fed's reluctance to reduce interest rates more aggressively." [see my comments of September 11]
January 7, 2008 The real problem now is that consumers can't rescue the economy and manufacturing, which is already weakening, will continue to weaken. We've gutted the forces that could avoid a downturn. The question is not whether there will be a recession, but can it be dampened sufficiently so that it is very short.
January 11, 2008 This is death by a thousand cuts.
January 13, 2008 [N.Y. Times]
“The question is not whether we will have a recession, but how deep and prolonged it will be,” said David Rosenberg, the chief North American economist at Merrill Lynch. “Even if the Fed’s moves are going to work, it will not show up until the later part of 2008 or 2009.”
January 17, 2008 A few days ago, Anna Schwartz, nonagenarian economist, implicated the Federal Reserve as the cause of the present lending crisis [from the Telegraph - UK]:
The high priestess of US monetarism - a revered figure at the Fed - says the central bank is itself the chief cause of the credit bubble, and now seems stunned as the consequences of its own actions engulf the financial system. "The new group at the Fed is not equal to the problem that faces it," she says, daring to utter a thought that fellow critics mostly utter sotto voce.
January 22, 2008 The cut has become infected and a limb is in danger. Ben Bernanke is panicking and the Fed has its emergency triage team cutting rates... this time by 3/4%. ...

What should the Federal Reserve do now? Step back... and don't be so anxious to raise rates at the first sign of economic improvement.
Individuals and businesses need stability in their financial cost structures so that they can plan effectively and keep their ships afloat. Wildly fluctuating rates... regardless of what the absolute levels are... create problems. Either too much spending or too much fear. It's just not that difficult to comprehend. Why has it been so difficult for the Fed?

About Me

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Michigan, United States
Air Force (SAC) captain 1968-72. Retired after 35 years of business and logistical planning, including running a small business. Two sons with advanced degrees; one with a business and pre-law degree. Beautiful wife who has put up with me for 4 decades. Education: B.A. (Sociology major; minors in philosopy, English literature, and German) M.S. Operations Management (like a mixture of an MBA with logistical planning)