But I do know what numbers are. I've also done addition before, so I know what the steps are. The result of 51 + 92 is derivative from (at least) these two concepts, which derive from others and so on. Maybe I'm stretching the meaning of derivative here, but to me derivative doesn't mean strictly recalling something verbatim.
I do think you're stretching the meaning of derivative. At that point, what can ever be called original? Every idea depends on pre-existing concepts. Even Newton stood on the shoulders of giants.
That's my overarching point. That most of human thought is derivative.
Even emotion, sure you're happy that you ate a tasty food. But you're happy because your body is flooding you with chemicals to reward you for it, as with many humans over time, it's how it was selected.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing. It's just incredibly interesting to me to compare the way I think we act to the way these early models are acting. That's all.
You've redefined the word "derivative" so broadly as to make it meaningless. If everything is derivative, then we can no longer draw distinctions in originality. How, then, can we discuss the fact that some things are plainly more original than others?
