From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sat Jun 15 2002 - 22:40:27 MDT
Louis writes
> > > [Relativity] was an amazing example of a proof. Scientists knew
> > > WITH CERTAINTY that it was correct, even though we couldn't
> > > measure some of the predictions until decades later.
> >
> > Nonsense. Many eminent scientists refused to believe Einstein's
> > arguments for decades.
>
> And they were wrong.
Well, then no one knew WITH CERTAINTY that it was correct,
then, right? Your words! Are you even reading back the
words you quote?
> > I meant only that we cannot be certain of *our* own
> > applications of logic, and for several reasons:
>
> Who are you speaking for when you say *we* can't trust *our* application of
> logic. I believe there are several people on this list who can apply the
> rules of logic correctly.
I'm quite well aware that you and some others here believe that
you have a monopoly on the correct use of logic, but what I'm
telling you is that we *all* make mistakes, even you. *Any*
substantive argument that you make *may* have holes in it, and
you are a fool if you don't recognize that possibility.
(Of course, it may be argued that nearly empty arguments, such
as if A implies B, and not-B, then not-A, are fool proof, but
such arguments have almost no content.)
Lee
P.S. Stay tuned for my nicer remarks about logic itself.
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