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Page 264
Antipodean: Yes. You have G-412.
T: When you say that you understood, do you mean that you too have G-412?
A: Why should I? You have G-412. I don't, thank God.
T: Try to tell me what happens when you understand what I told you.
A: Usually, if somebody tells me they have G-412, I have Q-234 which in some way elicits the chain of states Z-j . . . Z-n (where n > j), so that I have K-33. Then I say I have K-33, and my partner says that he is very happy that I have seen his point. Look at my Encyclopedia Antipodiana: State G-412 = in situation S-5 can be interpreted by Zj . . . Zn. . . .
Here follows the recording of a conversation between two Antipodeans.
A1: I have G-412.
A2: You should make your neuronic bundle G-16 quiver.
A1: You are right. But my brother suggested that it depends on the fact that yesterday I had G-666.
A2: Nonsense.
A1: I agree. You know my brother. He is sick. However, I should get an H-344.
A2: That is a good idea. Try this pill.
(At this point A1 and A2 smiled and showed an evident satisfaction at the success of their interaction).
The Terrestrials concluded (i) that Antipodeans understand an expression when they succeed in drawing a series of inferences from the corresponding proposition and (ii) that they usually agree in considering certain inferences as more obvious and acceptable than others.
However, all these were mere hypotheses. The chances of a fruitful exchange between Terrestrials and Antipodeans were severely limited. Here follows the recording of a crucial dialogue between two Terrestrial explorers.
T1: First of all, can we say that Antipodeans recognize something like propositions conveyed by expressions? Apparently they do not have a mind. Suppose they have propositions: where the hell do they put them?
T2: Then they must draw inferences directly from expressions.

 
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