RE: [asa] C.S. Lewis on ID

I assume that reasonable people would all agree with the results of experimental science. It is in the observational and/or historical sciences, e.g., astronomy, archeology, cosmology, etc. were disputes might arise regarding the interpretation of the data. I believe it is good to keep a clear distinction between the different disciplines and corresponding data that is being used. Note that all the data is made up of unique events and laws of Nature are obtained in the experimental sciences by generalizing such type of, by necessity, unique historical or past events.

 
Moorad

________________________________

From: John Burgeson (ASA member) [mailto:hossradbourne@gmail.com]
Sent: Wed 11/26/2008 5:37 PM
To: Alexanian, Moorad
Cc: George Murphy; David Opderbeck; David Clounch; john_walley@yahoo.com; Marcio Pie; ASA
Subject: Re: [asa] C.S. Lewis on ID

On 11/26/08, Alexanian, Moorad <alexanian@uncw.edu> wrote:
> Would someone tell me what "Consider All the evidence" really means? What
> evidence? How acquired?
>
A fair question. When I learned those two principles, I had the
concept that there were only two kinds of evidence, objective and
subjective, and that -- in science -- only the objective could be
used, IOW it had to be data that was available to anyone.

Polyani has suggested a third category -- "personal knowledge," which
I am favorably disposed to. I certainly have personal knowledge that
is mine alone, not even in principle available to you, which I must
use in ascertaining the probable truth of some matters. But that
cannot be "science." Perhaps it is a form of metaphysics, but that
does not do the concept justice either.

So "Consider all the evidence" means objective evidence. And one "sin"
of some scientists, including at least some YECs, is that they don't
follow that principle. Some people call that cherry-picking, which is
as good a term as any, I guess.

As I understand Timeous, he seems to adhere to both principles.

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Received on Wed Nov 26 20:46:18 2008