> >Yes we can analyze grammar without looking at 'ideal' cases.
> >Grammarians do it all the time.
> >Ian
>
> Right. But ideal cases are invaluable, right? I mean, really - I
shutter to
> think of surgery without someone using an 'ideal' case as a guide.
Imagine
> cutting someone head open to find a splinter in their foot. Ouch.
>
> ken
=========
Ah, the paradox of 'invaluable'. Where's my pocket Neitzsche? :-)
Surely an ideal case is not the same as learning successful technique
via intergenerational trial and error . Remember Greek medicine or the
origins of surgery? We didn't get from there to here because of some
non-realizable ideal [although maybe the physicians quest to beat
death has something to suggest as an analogy with what you and H are
getting at--but then again do we really need to have the medical
triumph over death be the reason for pushing all medicinal/surgical
techniques?]
Ian