Re: Random [and the Baconian Compromise]
Bill Hamilton (hamilton@predator.cs.gmr.com)
Wed, 22 Jan 1997 11:39:50 -0500>DT:
>> >These are interesting comments, because Steve's earlier posting
>> >about Bacon was expressing his concern that YEC spokesmen were
>> >over-influenced by Baconian philosophy.
>SC:
>> This is not what I intended to convey in my earlier posting regarding he
>> connection between Bacon and the ICR philosophy of science. I pointed out
>> that the ICR definition was Baconian in nature. Yet I made no claim as to
>> whether or not that definition was influenced by Baconian philosophy. It
>> is entirely plausible that the ICR arrived at their inductivist philosophy
>> of science without directly invoking any of Bacon's philosophy. A
>> convergent evolution of theory, if you will.
>
DT:
>I am happy to be corrected on this point. My apologies. Tracing the
>origins of ideas is a hazardous business at best!
>
George Marsden, in his paper "Understanding Fundamentalist views of
Science" (approximate title) which appears in the Oxfor University Press
"Science and Creationism" edited by Ashely Montagu (ca 1984) quotes some
statements by creationists in the earlier part of this centuray which seem
to equate Inductivism and Baconianism. I hate to take time out from my
current reading to go find it this week, but maybe someone else can. (Or I
will if someone twists my arm :-)
Bill Hamilton
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William E. Hamilton, Jr, Ph.D. | Staff Research Engineer
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