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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
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Multiple opposites
Are there any sets of three or more concepts which are mutually "opposite" in some way ?
Some sets of concepts which seem kind of close are:
{ true, false, indeterminate }
{ positive, negative, neutral }
A perfect example would be the points of a three-point compass, with directions { North, West-South-West-ish, East-South-East-ish }.
Thanks,
David Fisher
Sydney, Australia
Some sets of concepts which seem kind of close are:
{ true, false, indeterminate }
{ positive, negative, neutral }
A perfect example would be the points of a three-point compass, with directions { North, West-South-West-ish, East-South-East-ish }.
Thanks,
David Fisher
Sydney, Australia
Top answer
[nq:1]Are there any sets of three or more concepts which are mutually "opposite" in some way ? Some sets of concepts which seem kind of close are: { true, false, indeterminate } { positive, negative, neutral }[/nq] Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set: { love, hatred, indifference } qualifies ?
- [nq:1]Are there any sets of three or more concepts which are mutually "opposite" in some way ?
- Some sets of concepts which seem kind of close are: { true, false, indeterminate } { positive, negative, neutral }[/nq] Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference.
- Maybe the set: { love, hatred, indifference } qualifies ?
- David Fisher Sydney, Australia
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7 Answers
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[nq:1]Are there any sets of three or more concepts which are mutually "opposite" in some way ? Some sets of concepts which seem kind of close are: { true, false, indeterminate } { positive, negative, neutral }[/nq]
Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set:
{ love, hatred, indifference }
qualifies ?
David Fisher
Sydney, Austral
Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set:
{ love, hatred, indifference }
qualifies ?
David Fisher
Sydney, Austral
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[nq:2]Are there any sets of three or more concepts which ... { true, false, indeterminate } { positive, negative, neutral }[/nq]
[nq:1]Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set: { love, hatred, indifference } qualifies ? David Fisher Sydney, Australia[/nq]
To me opposites have to be 'either this or that - A denies the possibility of B - ra
[nq:1]Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set: { love, hatred, indifference } qualifies ? David Fisher Sydney, Australia[/nq]
To me opposites have to be 'either this or that - A denies the possibility of B - ra
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(snip)
[nq:1]To me opposites have to be 'either this or that - A denies the possibility of B - rather than ... ad infinitum. I think this means there can only ever be two items in this sort of group, but ICBW.[/nq]
An example where you could have more than two extreme values is colour ("color" for USA readers :-). Using different amounts of red, green and blue light, you get six extremes:
[nq:1]To me opposites have to be 'either this or that - A denies the possibility of B - rather than ... ad infinitum. I think this means there can only ever be two items in this sort of group, but ICBW.[/nq]
An example where you could have more than two extreme values is colour ("color" for USA readers :-). Using different amounts of red, green and blue light, you get six extremes:
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[nq:1](snip)[/nq]
[nq:2]To me opposites have to be 'either this or that ... be two items in this sort of group, but ICBW.[/nq]
[nq:1]An example where you could have more than two extreme values is colour ("color" for USA readers :-). Using different ... single opposite. What would you call the relationship between the words in the set { width, length, height } ?[/nq]
I'd call it an ort
[nq:2]To me opposites have to be 'either this or that ... be two items in this sort of group, but ICBW.[/nq]
[nq:1]An example where you could have more than two extreme values is colour ("color" for USA readers :-). Using different ... single opposite. What would you call the relationship between the words in the set { width, length, height } ?[/nq]
I'd call it an ort
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[nq:2]Are there any sets of three or more concepts which ... { true, false, indeterminate } { positive, negative, neutral }[/nq]
[nq:1]Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set: { love, hatred, indifference }[/nq]
This is a general silliness in just about all cultures I have come across. There is some queer wiring in our brains that insist
[nq:1]Another thought - someone once said that the opposite of love is indifference. Maybe the set: { love, hatred, indifference }[/nq]
This is a general silliness in just about all cultures I have come across. There is some queer wiring in our brains that insist
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[nq:1]What would you call the relationship between the words in the set { width, length, height } ?[/nq]
Opposites may attract, but I would personally call this relationship a mènage à trois and offer to take photos.
Redwine
Hamburg
Opposites may attract, but I would personally call this relationship a mènage à trois and offer to take photos.
Redwine
Hamburg
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[nq:1]To me opposites have to be 'either this or that - A denies the possibility of B - rather than waypoints on a line of continuous change - you can't be "slightly pregnant"'.[/nq]
This, I think, could be David's point: seeing things in black and white is all a matter of perception.
Something is either right or it is wrong. Therefore, if it is not right, it is wrong. It may be 99% right,
This, I think, could be David's point: seeing things in black and white is all a matter of perception.
Something is either right or it is wrong. Therefore, if it is not right, it is wrong. It may be 99% right,
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