Signals in the noise

Peter Gould

pp. 121-154

in: Stephen Gale, Gunnar Olsson (eds), Philosophy in geography, Berlin, Springer, 1979

Abstract

This essay expresses opinion. It could hardly express anything else, since it is not an exercise in logic, using specified rules to tease out from stated conditions the consequences contained in them. My aim is to capture your assent, even though it is only partially given. Without such an aim there is no point in writing, and, equally, no point in reading. If you disagree with my opinions, I hope you tell me. I may revise some or all of them, and look again at a number of questions which are far from resolved. In scholastic fashion, I shall marshall references to support my opinions, but these will be only more opinions, frequently those of authority figures in my current intellectual pantheon. A few of these seem to be permanent residents, others are new arrivals, and some may shortly disappear. But be skeptical of all of them: opinions supporting opinions should not be taken too seriously.