1. Translate in operational terms the following definition of General Semantics: "A study of human behavior under the stimulus of symbols, especially language symbols."

2. Chain-index five persons whom you know well, singling out the one feature in each of them that appears most significant to you.

3. Read the statements of Aristotle and Einstein (below), and describe, in operational language as much as possible, the differences between Science(400 B.C.) and Science(1950 A.D.). From The Language of Wisdom and Folly, Irving J. Lee, ed., Harper and Bros, 1949, p. 143.

   In the 4th century, B.C., Aristotle noted that

   Science arises whenever from a multitude of notions given in experience a universal conception is formed comprising all similar cases … The reason for this is that experience is knowledge of individual cases, whereas science is knowledge of universal principles, and every action and every creative process has to do with individual cases.

   In 1940, Albert Einstein pursued the issue in these terms:

   Science is the attempt to make the chaotic diversity of our sense-experience correspond to a logically uniform system of thought. In this system single experiences must be correlated with the theoretic structure in such a way that the resulting coordination is unique and convincing.

4. Our system of decimal notation is a method of thinking with numbers. By using ten different signs (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0), we can write any number. We could just as well work with the senary system, using only six of these signs (1,2,3,4,5,0). In this senary system, "6" (decimal) would be written "10," and "10" (decimal) would be written "14." Write the multiplication table in the senary system up to 10 x 10 (senary). Then perform the following operations (using the senary system) on the following numbers (here given in decimal notation). Keep your worksheets and return them with your answers.

   Addition: 783 + 612 =

   Subtraction: 770219 - 753482 =

   Multiplication: 41.823 x 34 =

   Division: 1421.982 ÷ 34 =

   

5. Four men in the their early thirties meet in the lounge of a New York-Montreal train, and discuss the topics of the day, such as the war in Korea, the British Labor Government, pension plans in industry, etc.

   a. was born and brought up in New York, belongs to a wealthy family, is assistant to the president of a firm that makes office machines and in which his family has the controlling interests. Was a pilot in World War II. Single.

   b. is French from Quebec, educated at Harvard, is general manager of the family's firm in Quebec. Theirs is the largest foundation garment industry in the British Commonwealth, with factories under license in various countries. No military experience because one eye was lost playing hockey. Married, no children.

   c. is an engineer, born and brought up in the Middle West, earned most of his education, was Lt. Colonel of paratroop unit in Pacific theater. Now assistant to Works Manager in a large plant in the western part of New York state, where mining and construction equipment is made for the U.S. and outside. Married, 2 children.

   d. is second generation American, of Polish descent, born and brought up in Chicago. Military service in Infantry and Intelligence (European theater) up to rank of Major. College: Arts with major in sociology. After the War took graduate work in Human Relations at M.I.T. Now industrial relations consultant to a large labor union. Married, 1 child.

   Are they living in the 'same' world?

6. Here is a problem you are asked to solve: "When I am as old as my father is now, I shall be five times as old as my son is now. By then my son will be eight years older than I am now. The combined ages of my father and myself are 100 years. How old is my son?" Solve it by using three different methods of mathematics: a) arithmetic figured in Roman numerals exclusively; b) arithmetic figured in ordinary decimal notation; and c) algebra. Compare the three methods in the light of time-binding.

7. Give at least one example from your own experience when the 'same' thing appeared (was perceived, tasted, felt, etc.) different at different times or under different conditions.

8. Choose any situation, event, or person you are familiar with. Write a list of the characteristics you habitually abstract from it and a list of other characteristics you could abstract. This may apply to your home, to your office, to your wife or husband, to the way you do certain things, etc.

   

9. List as many words as you can that are in common use and tend to make us forget the process character of the world. Such words as rest, permanent, etc.

10. View yourself as a dynamic process and describe two or three events of your life that have altered this process in a significant manner.

11. Hold an object (ash tray, pencil, book or anything else that may be handy) and look at it steadily, examining it. As soon as you begin verbalizing about it to yourself, put it down. Take it up again and try again. See how long you can stay on the 'silent' level of abstracting. You can practice on the silent level while watching a person, viewing a scene, listening to music, etc. Try it many times and record how long you can observe without being influenced by your verbalizations. Describe your impressions.

12. Give examples of discussions where lack of agreement was due to some assumption hidden behind the terms you or the other person employed. This may apply to a passage you read in a book and could not accept.

13. Look at the definition, "Man is a rational animal" in light of what you know of the abstracting process. Can you describe some practical difficulties (in medicine, education, family life, etc.) that can be traced back to the blind acceptance of this definition?

14. Give other examples (as many as possible) of other classifications, generally accepted in our everyday language, that are not supported by the scientific findings of today and are likely to create trouble in our relations with our

15. Starting with the one at the lowest level of abstraction, arrange the following statements in order of increasing abstraction:
    1. The dollar is now worth 60¢ compared to what it was before World War II.
       
    2. The cost-of-living index has come down from 142.5 to 141.9 in September.
       
    3. Rents have gone up from an average of $30.50 a month to $32.50 a month in the last year.
       
    4. The food index has gone from 147.2 to 152.3 in the last month.
       
    5. In Pittsfield, eggs are selling at 5 cents a dozen more this week than last week.
       
    6. Life is not what it used to be when we were young.
       
    7. By insisting on wage increases, labor unions are defeating their own ends.