From: Steve Clark <ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu>
>
>> >Alternative explanations always accompany a given set of data. Martians
>> >also could have deposited the presents. This explanation fully explains
>> >the observation.
>>
>>Quite. There is an unlimited number of possible hypotheses consistent with
>>an observation, many of them quite ludicrous. To say of each of them that
>>the observation is evidence for that hypothesis undermines the usefulness
of
>>the phrase.
>>
>>Now, if everybody accepted that "X is evidence for Y" was synonymous with
"X
>>is consistent with Y", that might not matter. But I think most people
would
>>take "X is evidence for Y" to mean something like "Y is the best
explanation
>>of X".
>>
>>In view of this ambiguity, I would suggest that the phrase be avoided,
>>especially on such a contentious matter as the claims of ID proponents.
>
>The ambiguity can also be traced to claims as you made above. In order to
>accurately debate science, one cannot eliminate the logic of argument and
>of evidence. A continuing error, which confounds the evolution/creation
>debate, and to which you succumb above, is to think that data must PROVE an
>hypothesis. If it doesn't, then you argue that the other side has not
>PROVEN its case.
I made no such argument. You seem to have missed my point. I did not mention
"proof" at all. I was talking about which is the better explanation. Do you
not agree that the parents hypothesis is a better explanation for presents
under the tree than the Santa Claus hypothesis?
>Of course the other side is guilty of overstating its
>case. A lot of talking past one another would be avoided if all sides
>exercised proper understanding of hypotheses, data, proof and evidence.
I quite agree. And another common cause of people talking past one another
is failure to address the arguments actually presented!
Please re-read my post which you quote above. If it's unclear, I'll be happy
to elaborate.
Richard Wein (Tich)
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Jul 24 2000 - 16:16:27 EDT