Re: Warning Labels

Moorad Alexanian (alexanian@UNCWIL.EDU)
Wed, 12 Nov 1997 09:43:14 -0500 (EST)

At 10:12 PM 11/11/97 -0500, George Murphy wrote:
>Bill Payne wrote:
>> The State School Board of Alabama adopted the following
>> statement which is now placed in the front of all public school science
>> textbooks in Alabama:
>>
>> A MESSAGE FROM THE ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
>>
>> This textbook discusses evolution, a controversial theory some
>> scientists present as a scientific explanation for the origin of living
>> things, such as plants, animals and humans.
>>
>> No one was present when life first appeared on earth. Therefore, any
>> statement about life's origins should be considered as theory, not fact.
>
> This contains "we can't see the past" argument, the use of which
>is _prima facie_ evidence of incompetence.
> George Murphy
>

Dear George,

I am almost sure that you have often heard the statement: "How do you know?
Were you there?" Everyday people use and understand such statements. Perhaps
scientists don't. There is lot of evidence of past events. However, the
final answer to the question of origins will forever remain a mystery to
living man except as a belief.

Best regards,

Moorad