John wrote:
> Additionally, I happen to have predicted the outcome of every National
> Football League game since 1988. In each and every year, however, I have
> correctly predicted the outcome of well more than 50% of the games. Does
> this make me a football scientist?
No, but you and I need to talk about some betting action in Vegas. How much
cash can you get your hands on before Football season?
> Finally, what about scientists that aren't involved in making
predictions?
> Do you consider most Biologists to be scientists? How about
> taxonomists? Are Geologists scientists? Paleontologists? How do you
> measure their predictions?
I'm not agreeing with the "50% or better reliability" definition of science,
mind you, but the predictions of geologists and paleontologists can be
measured. For instance, a paleontologist can look at a fossil and say,
"Hmm. Based upon the bone structure, apparent age and accompanying fossils,
I'd say that this is from a large sauropod, most likely an Apatosaurus.
Additionally, the size of this bone would indicate that it was smaller than
fully adult sized." The results of further excavations will provide the
answers. I'm sure geologists can make similar predictions based upon rock
fragments, landscape and the like.
> If people want to disparage Economics as not being a "science", I think
you
> should at least be able to come up with a reasonable definition of
> "science" to back up your point. If not, then it just sounds like you
all
> are saying that "Science is everything that is not Economics" - and that
is
> just not going to cut it.
>
> In the meantime, I will continue to support my definition of science being
> the application of the scientific method to gain information about the
> world as the best starting point for defining science.
I'd be more inclined to believe that Economics is a science in development,
and one that ties in with psychology and sociology, thus making it less of a
binary option science and more of a fuzzy-logic type.
Speaking as a layman, of course.
Adam C. Lipscomb
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
ICQ# 32384792
