computer science

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Taka

#549726 Fri, 01 Aug 08 06:25 PM

I believe that the discovery by computer science of the technical challenges overcome by our everyday mental activity is one of the great revelations of science, an awakening of the imagination comparable to learning that the universe is made up of billions of galaxies or that a drop of pond water is full of microscopic life.

Question #1:

If 'that is' or 'in other words' was added as this below, would it still sound as natural?

I believe that the discovery by computer science of the technical challenges overcome by our everyday mantal acivity is one of the great revelations of science, that is/ in other words, an awakening of the imagination comparable to learning that the universe is made up of billions of garaxies or that a drop of ond water is full of microscopic life.

Question #2:

About the 'comparable' in bold, which does it modify?

(1) an awakening of the imagination

(2) the imagination

Taka

Joined on Tue, Sep 7 2004

Japan

Senior Member (2,349)

Clive

#549775 Fri, 01 Aug 08 07:57 PM

Hi,
I believe that the discovery by computer science of the technological challenges overcome by our everyday mental activity is one of the great revelations of science, an awakening of the imagination comparable to learning that the universe is made up of billions of galaxies or that a drop of pond water is full of
microscopic life.

I have to say that I find it a bit odd to suggest, as this seems to, that our mental actvity involves technological challenges. I don't think of what goes on in our brains as 'technological'. Perhaps the larger context for this remark discusses computer scientists' attempts to duplicate our brain activity by technological means.

Question #1:

If 'that is' or 'in other words' was added as this below, would it still sound as natural? It wouldn't sound as stylish.

I believe that the discovery by computer science of thetechnological challenges overcome by our everyday mantal acivity is oneof the great revelations of science, that is/ in other words, an awakening of the imaginationcomparable to learning that the universe is made up of billions ofgaraxies or that a drop of ond water is full of microscopiclife.

Question #2:

About the 'comparable' in bold, which does it modify?

(1) an awakening of the imagination <<<<<<

(2) the imagination

Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,263)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

Taka

#549781 Fri, 01 Aug 08 08:07 PM

Clive
Hi,

I have to say that I find it a bit odd to suggest, as this seems to, that our mental actvity involves technological challenges.

Oops! It was 'technical', not 'technological.' Sorry, I've fixed it.

Now does it make sense to you? Is that 'technical' semantically close to 'practical'?

Clive

Question #1:

If 'that is' or 'in other words' was added as this below, would it still sound as natural? It wouldn't sound as stylish.

I believe that the discovery by computer science of thetechnological challenges overcome by our everyday mantal acivity is oneof the great revelations of science, that is/ in other words, an awakening of the imagination comparable to learning that the universe is made up of billions ofgaraxies or that a drop of ond water is full of microscopic life.

Then you don't think 'an awakening of the imagination' is really a noun phrase in apposition, the restatement of 'the great revelation of science'?

Taka

Nouns, Noun phrases

Clive

#549786 Fri, 01 Aug 08 08:13 PM

Hi,

Now does it make sense to you? Is that 'technical' semantically close to 'practical'? Well, it's better than 'technological'. But I much prefer 'practical'.

Then you don't think 'an awakening of the imagination' is really a noun phrase in apposition, the restatement of 'the great revelation of science'? Yes, I do think that. That's why I think it's rather stylish.

Clive

Clive

Nouns, Noun phrases

Goodman

#549800 Fri, 01 Aug 08 08:55 PM

Hi Taka,
I find the way in whcih you sturcture the phrases and sentence perplexingly hard to understand. I have to be honest; I have a hard time trying to decypher the meaing hidden in this short paragraph. I got lost between "the discovery by computer science " and " microscopic life...."

I believe that the discovery by computer science of thetechnological challenges overcome by our everyday mantal acivity is oneof the great revelations of science, that is/ in other words, an awakening of the imagination comparable to learning that the universe is made up of billions ofgaraxies or that a drop of ond water is full of microscopic life.

Goodman

Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005

Calif. USA

Senior Member (3,243)

The name says it all!

Paragraphs

Taka

#549870 Sat, 02 Aug 08 04:08 AM

Clive
Hi,

Then you don't think 'an awakening of the imagination' is really a noun phrase in apposition, the restatement of 'the great revelation of science'? Yes, I do think that. That's why I think it's rather stylish.

OK. So is it safe to say that an awakening of the imagination clarifies what one of the great revelations of science is?

Goodman
Hi Taka,I find the way in whcih you sturcture the phrases and sentence perplexingly hard to understand.

Sorry, but I'm not the one who wrote the sentence.

Taka

Nouns, Noun phrases

Clive

#549892 Sat, 02 Aug 08 05:19 AM

Hi,

OK. So is it safe to say that an awakening of the imagination clarifies what one of the great revelations of science is?
Yes.
Although I think I might prefer to express it that both of the above expressions clarify 'the discovery by computer science of the technical challenges overcome by our everyday mental activity '

Clive

Clive

Expressions

Taka

#550019 Sat, 02 Aug 08 02:58 PM

Clive
Hi,

OK. So is it safe to say that an awakening of the imagination clarifies what one of the great revelations of science is?
Yes.
Although I think I might prefer to express it that both of the above expressions clarify 'the discovery by computer science of the technical challenges overcome by our everyday mental activity '

Clive

Right. The further you read, the clearer it becomes what it is about, I think.

What is 'the discovery by computer science of the technical challenges overcome by our everyday mental activity'?→It's one of the great revelations of science.→And that is?→That is an awakening of the imagination.

Taka

Expressions