site banner
felipec  unbelief  2yr ago (felipec.substack.com)   3599 thread views

2+2 = not what you think

felipec.substack.com

Changing someone's mind is very difficult, that's why I like puzzles most people get wrong: to try to open their mind. Challenging the claim that 2+2 is unequivocally 4 is one of my favorites to get people to reconsider what they think is true with 100% certainty.

-34
Top Bottom Old Controversial Comments
Jump in the discussion.

No email address required.

You are trying to distract from what you said

No, I'm trying to explain what I said, because you keep removing the context:

  1. 2+2=0 (mod4) is not the same statement as 2+2=0

I said 2+2=4 in standard arithmetic is not the same statement as 2+2=0 (mod 4). I insisted on making this explicit, because it came up on the context of mod 4. And because I suspected you were trying lead me to a contradiction, so I made sure to speak clearly, proofing myself against it.

So if you cut out the important context, and then try to construct a contradiction that doesn't work with the context included, you're misrepresenting me.

Retract and apologize.

(Assuming here you meant to write 4 instead of 0, but otherwise it would just be an even worse misquote, so I'm charitably assuming it's a typo.)

But it's pretty clear that you meant 2+2=4, not 2+2=4 (mod 4), because the former is what most people think is true.

I meant "2+2=4", "in Z/4Z" omitted, as in your original setup*. When it's about people's reaction to the statement, formulation is important.

*But in my case it was available from context, whereas in your example it was deliberate misdirection.

People think it's true, while they're denied the context. But given the full context, which changes the meaning, it's still true.

It's also quite peculiar that you're doing what you're accusing me of: I pointed out you were contradicting yourself, you tried to weasel away, and when I nailed you down, you tried to ignore it. Do you stand by the statement

(2+2=4 (mod 4)) exists, which is not the same as (2+2=4), and you finally accept that they are two different things.

?

I said 2+2=4 in standard arithmetic is not the same statement as 2+2=0 (mod 4).

You keep omitting the context of your own statements, you clearly implied that "more than 0.0001% people think 2+2 is necessarily 4", obviously you meant in standard arithmetic, since very few people know that 2+2=4 (mod 4) even exists. And you also accepted 2+2=4 (mod 4) is not the same statement as 2+2=4, therefore it's entirely possible for more than 0.0001% people to think that 2+2=4, and less than 0.0001% people think that 2+2=4 (mod 4).

you clearly implied that "more than 0.0001% people think 2+2 is necessarily 4", obviously you meant in standard arithmetic, since very few people know that 2+2=4 (mod 4) even exists.

Obviously I meant "with unspecified context", because that was the example we were talking about. Yes, people don't know you're sneakily talking about modular arithmetic - but "2+2=4" is still true, so people are giving the correct answer, despite the confusion.

And you also accepted 2+2=4 (mod 4) is not the same statement as 2+2=4

Can you just fucking stop misrepresenting me? That would be great, thanks.

And you also accepted 2+2=4 (mod 4) is not the same statement as 2+2=4

Can you just fucking stop misrepresenting me? That would be great, thanks.

False. I'm not misrepresenting you, you literally said they are not the same statement right here.

Do you believe that (2+2=4) and (2+2=0 (mod 4)) are "the same statement"?

But just for the record, the answer is no then.

It took you 5 comments where you tried to misdirect, but you finally accepted it, and because now it's clear that admission dismantles your whole argument, you are trying back down from it, but you did accept it.

You cut out the part where you specified (2+2=4) in standard arithmetic before I answered. That's the misrepresentation.

Since you seem to have hard time understanding context, I'll repeat my actual statement with the context explicit:

(2+2=4 in standard arithmetic) and (2+2=0 (mod 4)) are not the same statement.

With that cleared up, any further questions?

You cut out the part where you specified (2+2=4) in standard arithmetic before I answered. That's the misrepresentation.

False. That is understood, since you argued that (2+2=4) is always standard arithmetic, so no context is necessary.

(2+2=4 in standard arithmetic) and (2+2=0 (mod 4)) are not the same statement.

This is precisely what I interpreted, there is zero misrepresentation.

Now that you have repeated what I already said, except making the standard arithmetic explicit, instead of implicit, let's go back to the context that you keeping trying to run away from:

You very clearly said:

Did you just claim less than 0.0001% of people think 2+2=4?

As I pointed out numerous times, by 2+2=4 in this context you meant in standard arithmetic, which is what I interpreted correctly from the start, and I stated to you multiple times already.

You finally accepted that (2+2=4 in standard arithmetic) and (2+2=4 (mod 4)) are not the same statement, therefore even if 99.9999% of people think (2+2=4 in standard arithmetic) that does not equate to 99.9999% people thinking (2+2=4 (mod 4)), because they are different statements (as I already explained).

Therefore when you said "We think 4, 4 is 0", you were wrong.

Your statement expanded is "We (99.9999% people) think 4 (in standard arithmetic), 4 (in standard arithmetic) is 0 (in standard arithmetic)", which is clearly wrong. Period.

you argued that (2+2=4) is always standard arithmetic

No, I didn't. If you believe otherwise, cite where I said it. Or stop misrepresenting me.

As I pointed out numerous times, by 2+2=4 in this context you meant in standard arithmetic

So you're "pointing out" to me what I meant. Have you considered that I can read my mind better than you can? After all, when someone talks about your position elsewhere , you're quick to call it out as assumptions. And when I offer clarification, you ignore it, only to repeat your strawman two posts later.

Obviously I meant "with unspecified context", because that was the example we were talking about. Yes, people don't know you're sneakily talking about modular arithmetic - but "2+2=4" is still true, so people are giving the correct answer, despite the confusion.

That was my clarification. I've had a lot of patience with you, but I can't really have a discussion with someone who talks to their own caricature of me and ignores what I actually say.

if 99.9999% of people think (2+2=4 in standard arithmetic) that does not equate to 99.9999% people thinking (2+2=4 (mod 4))

You weren't asking about 2+2 (mod 4) though. You were asking "2+2=" without context, and people answer "4", which is correct.

If they interpret the meaning of the string "2+2=" different than you, that's not anyone being wrong, that's just a misunderstanding caused by your bad communication. But luckily the misunderstanding doesn't matter, because the answer is correct in either interpretation.

You weren't asking about 2+2 (mod 4) though.

No, I was asking about 2+2 (no context), as I have been made it clear countless times.

You were asking "2+2=" without context, and people answer "4", which is correct.

False. 2+2 (standard arithmetic) is different than 2+2 (mod 4), and 4 (standard arithmetic) is different than 4 (mod 4).

After many questions you finally accepted that:

(2+2=4 in standard arithmetic) and (2+2=0 (mod 4)) are not the same statement.

Are you going to backtrack from that claim?

No, I was asking about 2+2 (no context), as I have been made it clear countless times.

You're confused. I'm the one who pointed out several times that your "2+2" was lacking context.

I'm glad we're on the same page now though.

2+2 (standard arithmetic) is different than 2+2 (mod 4), and 4 (standard arithmetic) is different than 4 (mod 4).

And "2+2=4" is correct both in SA and (mod 4).

More comments

What is this place?

This website is a place for people who want to move past shady thinking and test their ideas in a court of people who don't all share the same biases. Our goal is to optimize for light, not heat; this is a group effort, and all commentators are asked to do their part.

The weekly Culture War threads host the most controversial topics and are the most visible aspect of The Motte. However, many other topics are appropriate here. We encourage people to post anything related to science, politics, or philosophy; if in doubt, post!

Check out The Vault for an archive of old quality posts. You are encouraged to crosspost these elsewhere.


Why are you called The Motte?

A motte is a stone keep on a raised earthwork common in early medieval fortifications. More pertinently, it's an element in a rhetorical move called a "Motte-and-Bailey", originally identified by philosopher Nicholas Shackel. It describes the tendency in discourse for people to move from a controversial but high value claim to a defensible but less exciting one upon any resistance to the former. He likens this to the medieval fortification, where a desirable land (the bailey) is abandoned when in danger for the more easily defended motte. In Shackel's words, "The Motte represents the defensible but undesired propositions to which one retreats when hard pressed."

On The Motte, always attempt to remain inside your defensible territory, even if you are not being pressed.


New post guidelines

If you're posting something that isn't related to the culture war, we encourage you to post a thread for it. A submission statement is highly appreciated, but isn't necessary for text posts or links to largely-text posts such as blogs or news articles; if we're unsure of the value of your post, we might remove it until you add a submission statement. A submission statement is required for non-text sources (videos, podcasts, images).

Culture war posts go in the culture war thread; all links must either include a submission statement or significant commentary. Bare links without those will be removed.

If in doubt, please post it!


Rules


Recommended Posts And Communities

Recommended Realtime Chats