From: Harvey Newstrom (mail@HarveyNewstrom.com)
Date: Sat Jun 15 2002 - 18:24:34 MDT
On Saturday, June 15, 2002, at 02:30 pm, Lee Corbin wrote:
> I meant only that we
> cannot be certain of *our* own applications of logic, and
> for several reasons:
>
> One is that we cannot be certain of the premises involved
> in any of the logical formulations (e.g. Modus Tollens, or
> use of the Contra-Positive). Another is, if the number and
> intricacy of the deductions is very great, we cannot be
> certain that we haven't just blown it. Third, a step that
> seems completely straight-forward and legitimate may
> actually contain a subtle error.
OK. So what do you propose we do instead? Abandon logic? Stop trying
to figure out the truth?
We're only human. We do the best we can. Sure, we might make
mistakes. But we keep trying.
What is the point of insisting that we can never be 100% sure of
anything? Let's concede that point for the sake of argument. Now what?
-- Harvey Newstrom, CISSP <www.HarveyNewstrom.com> Principal Security Consultant <www.Newstaff.com>
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