From: Harvey Newstrom (newstrom@newstaffinc.com)
Date: Fri Jun 25 1999 - 23:31:42 MDT
Lee Daniel Crocker <lcrocker@mercury.colossus.net (none)> wrote:
> > I am getting really concerned by what passes for "logic" in these recent
> > discussions. Most of the arguments here lately seem to boil down to
random
> > theories with no supporting evidence. When someone objects, the defense
is
> > "you can't prove I'm not right." This is not logical, not scientific,
and
> > not Extropian.
>
> There is also a place for boundless speculation, and I don't think
> this list is inappropriate for that.
I wasn't objecting to speculation.
I was objecting to the debating technique of using known logical fallacies
to make a point. I was objecting to the claims of evidence that puts the
burden of proof on others rather than the claimant. I was objecting to the
theorem that ideas are assumed to be true until proven false. I was
objecting to the evaluation of claims that are not testable, falsifiable, or
repeatable.
True speculation doesn't require these anti-Extropian traits. Speculation
is fine, but if speculation requires the above fakery to appear plausible,
it is not useful speculation. Useful speculation leads to scientific
postulates and theories, testing of logic, evaluation of data, and the
scientific method. These methods can lead to actual truths. That's useful
speculation.
-- Harvey Newstrom <mailto://newstrom@newstaffinc.com> <http://newstaffinc.com> Author, Consultant, Engineer, Legal Hacker, Researcher, Scientist.
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