----- Original Message -----
From: "Darryl Shannon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Brin-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 9:05 PM
Subject: Contradiction Problems????
> Dan wrote:
>
>
> >OK, fair enough. The reason I was asking was your statement that
> >scientists
> >are taught metaphysics as part of their training. The statement I was
> >referring to is:
> >
> >"So, how can a scientist believe in God when he is trained to only
> >accept
> >that what is scientifically proven?"
> >
> >It seemed to imply that scientists are taught that only the emperical
> >can be
> >accepted. That is a metaphysical presupposition that science need not
> >make
> >and chooses not to adress at all.
> >
> >Dan M.
> >
>
> I can confirm that only a handful of science course had any sort of
> metaphysical/philosophy of science content. And the one or two that
> did simply had a quick rundown of different metaphysical
> assumptions...positivism, empiricism, materialism, etc. No professor
> ever indicated which position was the right one, they merely catalogued
> them.
>
> Scientists are not trained to have any sort of metaphysical standards.
> They are trained to have practical standards: such and such is
> neccesary before you can be published. Such and such behavior will get
> you fired. Such and such confidence levels are required for
> publication. Such and such data collection standards must be met or
> other scientists won't take you seriously.
>
Or, your model wont' match the data. We experimentalists tend to be so
picky about that. We tend to dismiss absolutely brillient theories becasue
they don't match the data we take with our grubby little paws. Drives dem
dinkum thinkum boffins crazy.
> Eh, I'm starting to come around to Dan's position that scientist have
> given up searching for truth and have settled for just figuring stuff
> out. Except that to believe THAT, I'd have to think it was the truth,
> and I don't believe in the truth any more. But wait, is it the truth
> that I don't believe in the truth?
Just have a little faith, Darryl. :-)
>Ah, hell with it, I'm gonna watch the Simpsons....
Ah, that's the almost last place I'd go to look for an honest man. <grin>
Dan M.
>
