On 10 March 2014 10:20, meekerdb <[email protected]> wrote: > On 3/9/2014 1:46 PM, LizR wrote: > > On 10 March 2014 02:15, Edgar L. Owen <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Russell, >> >> Yes, but that is crazy because it assumes all theories are equally >> valid with which I disagree. Science selects theories based on which best >> explain the observable universe. >> > > This is true. David Deutsch argues for this view convincingly in "The > Fabric of Reality". (Russell and Brent are not disputing this view as a > practical approach, I think, they are just pointing out that there are > metaphysical assumptions built into it....unless they correct me on this.) > > Deutsch pushes it strongly in "The Beginning of Infinity", but I have > some reservations about his emphasis. I think what makes a theory good is > multidimensional: predictive power, scope, testability, and consilience. > It seems that Deutsch recognizes these factors as part of what makes a good > explanation, but "explanation" invites an interpretation of "psychological > satisfaction". Many people think "God did it." is a great explanation > because it works as psychological satisfaction. It's got lots of scope, > works every time, and is consilient with almost everything. It just fails > miserably on predictive power and testability. I know Deutsch doesn't mean > it this way, but it's why I don't like his emphasis on the word > "explanation" over the more neutral "theory". >
But are you happy with what he says apart from his nomenclature? (If so, I guess his explanation has achieved "psychological satisfaction"...) "God did it" isn't a theory or an explanation unless it goes into more depth about what God is, why it exists and how it does things, and uses these details to make some testable predictions that will separate it out from other theories (Allah did it, Zeus did it, Odin did it, Amaterasu did it, etc). Actually GDI has a whole raft of predictions about how God will take care of his chosen group, how he will end the world in, er, some time soon, how he created the world in 7 days, how he will intercede if you pray hard enough, etc. None of which so far appear to have been borne out, making GDI both testable and fallible, also tested and failed. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Everything List" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/everything-list. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
