[Inquiry] Examples Of Inquiry

[Jon Awbrey]

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EOI.  Note 1

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The question arises whether simple programs can
emulate the proceedings of scientific inquiries --
that is, to what extent is inquiry algorithmic?

I will approach this question through simple examples.

Let us first consider John Dewey's "Rainy Day Inquiry"
or "Sign of Rain" example, and this time put it under
the microscope and look at a few of its finer details.
In particular, I can use it to illustrate a couple of
important issues:

1.  The interpretive aspect of inquiry as a semiotic process.

2.  The differential aspect of inquiry as a dynamic process.

For ease of reference, I repeat here the original story:

| A man is walking on a warm day.
| The sky was clear the last time
| he observed it;  but presently he
| notes, while occupied primarily with
| other things, that the air is cooler.
| It occurs to him that it is probably
| going to rain;  looking up, he sees
| a dark cloud between him and the sun,
| and he then quickens his steps.
|
| What, if anything, in such a situation
| can be called thought?  Neither the act
| of walking nor the noting of the cold is
| a thought.  Walking is one direction of
| activity;  looking and noting are other
| modes of activity.  The likelihood that
| it will rain is, however, something
| 'suggested'. The pedestrian 'feels'
| the cold;  he 'thinks of' clouds
| and a coming shower.
|
| John Dewey, 'How We Think', 1910, pp. 6-7

I will let this example soak in a bit
before I wring to my present purposes.

Jon Awbrey
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inquiry e-lab: http://stderr.org/pipermail/inquiry/
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