Re: [asa] Proof That Common Descent is NOT Begging the Question

Siemens; Note that Thomas was not asked to believe "without
evidence." He had the testimony of those who had observed when he was
absent, but refused to believe them. He demanded direct, personal
evidence. How would you react if I insisted that Pim did not exist
because I had never personally met him? If on meeting I declared, "I
don't think you are Pim"? How far can one carry silly denials?
 
Quite far it seems, all the way into a reply to my posting. But you
seem to be missing my point namely that faith without evidence seems
to be far more powerful than faith supported by scientific evidence
and fact.
 
Pim,
You did not originally specify "scientific evidence." But there is,
indeed, can be no scientific evidence for religion, morals, or most of
the other matters we consider important in life. We need a different
category of evidence for them. For that matter, George Murphy is a
scientist, but is his statement that so-and-so reports ... in a physics
journal a scientific statement? He didn't observe the experiment. Is my
repetition of what he says a scientific statement or only hearsay? How
far does "scientific evidence" extend? How "scientific" is your response?

Additionally, science is only possible by assuming some claims that
cannot be supported scientifically. Also, the whole of mathematics is
founded on what Euclid recognized as postulates for geometry,
distinguishing them from the common notions which demanded immediate
acceptance. Later geometers didn't understand that the postulates were
not necessary truths until the late eighteenth century. And then came
Goedel with true statements that can't be proved.
Dave (ASA)
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Received on Thu Aug 14 22:30:53 2008