Ambiguous statements and perspective

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An "ambiguous statement" is a statement that can be taken in more than one way. Jesus makes many "ambiguous statements" in that, while each is true in a certain sense, one can deceive oneself by recognizing one of the ways in which the statement could make sense.

This is a start at "ambiguous statements" in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

Ambiguous statements involving pronouns are covered elsewhere.

More: Pronouns

Alan Kay (American computer scientist) . Talk at Creative Think seminar, 20 July 1982.

A change in perspective is worth 80 IQ points.
Perspective is worth 80 IQ points.
Point of view is worth 80 IQ points

Kay uses the example of solving problems using polar coordinates rather than Cartesian coordinates. Each works better in certain circumstances. Kay developed (invented) object-oriented and user interface ideas that changed computer science and led to the modern window interface with icons, the mouse, etc.

Necker Cube

Principles of duality in many fields allow the same problem to be addressed from two seemingly different points of view.

More: Duality principles

More: Alan Kay

▶

1 Heads

2 Tails

3 Edge

4 Bottom

To determine the probability that an event happens, one needs to know the sample space - all possible outcomes.

The obvious outcomes are "heads" and "tails".
Before the flip, the outcome is not known, represented by "bottom" or "⊥".
Some events are so rare, such as "edge", that in case of that event, it is done over.
Some events may be ignored, such as losing the coin, as it is done over.

The probability of a flip of a coin requires (information) knowledge of the point of view.

More: Sample space for a coin flip

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [kjv]

μακαριοι οι ειρηνοποιοι οτι αυτοι υιοι θεου κληθησονται [gnt]

beati pacifici … vocabuntur [v]

The Greek word translated "blessed" means "happy" or "content".

[Pax Romana, anarchy vs. peace]

Jesus does not say whether being a "peacemaker" is a good or bad idea.
Jesus does not say who will call such a "peacemaker" the "children of God".

As such, this Beatitude is an ambiguous statement that can be taken in multiple ways.

Paraphrase: Those who make peace or appeasement (in this world) are happy/content with themselves as they are named or called (by the world) children of God.

More: Matthew 5:9 Making and appeasing peaceful peacemakers

Matthew 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. [kjv]

η ποιησατε το δενδρον καλον και τον καρπον αυτου καλον η ποιησατε το δενδρον σαπρον και τον καρπον αυτου σαπρον εκ γαρ του καρπου το δενδρον γινωσκεται [gnt]

The statement "The tree is known by its fruit." is an "ambiguous statement" based on the viewpoint of who "knows" or "infers" what.

Fruit inside and outside

God "knows" (sees) both the "inside" and the "outside" of the "fruit".
Man "knows" (sees) only the "outside" of the "fruit".

From computability theory, it may not be possible to always determine if the inside is "good" or "rotten". An "accounting" may be necessary for "idle words".

The Greek word for "fruit" is masculine and takes the grammatical gender of "his".

More: Matthew 12:30-37 Pardon the idle word counting