Quote:
Originally Posted by Dilettante
It's really a process we could use in looking for evidence for anything.
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No (cf. following replies)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dilettante
If, for example, I think there are mice in my house, I might say to myself: "Mice chew up electrical cables." (thus defining a quality of a mouse).
I might then think: "If there are mice in my home, I should observed chewed up electrical cables when I look behind my computer." (thus defining the evidence to look for)
If I look behind my computer and observe chewed up electrical cables, then I have some evidence for the existence of mice in my home. It is not conclusive evidence (for example, I could have rats instead of mice), but it is evidence none-the-less.
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In defining the qualities of a mouse, what is your reference? Could it be that a mouse has been produced already so that you are able to describe the qualities of a mouse from actual practical experience? Or are you inferring some qualities from an animal that has never been produced but is perhaps contained in some folklore?
Would it be correct for me to assume that little green leprechauns chew up electrical cables (thus defining the quality of a leprechaun) and say that if I observe chewed up cables when I look behind my computer (thus defining the evidence to look for) then I have evidence of leprechauns in my home?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dilettante
Alternatively, if I think there is a magnet hidden in a shoe-box, I will recognize that by "magnet" I mean (amongst other things) an object that attracts iron to itself. I might then state that, "If there is a magnet in this shoe-box, when I place an iron spoon near the box I should observe the spoon moving toward the box." If I do in fact observe the spoon move toward the box, I have some evidence that a magnet exists in that shoe-box.
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In defining the qualities of a magnet, what is your reference? Could it be that a magnet has been produced already so that you are able to describe the qualities of a magnet from actual practical experience? Or are you inferring some qualities from an object that has never been produced but is perhaps contained in some folklore?
Would it be correct for me to assume that Mjollnir (that's Thor's Hammer) attracts iron to itself, then state that "If Mjollnir is in this shoe-box, when I place an iron spoon near the box I should observe the spoon moving toward the box"? If I do in fact observe the spoon move toward the box, do I have some evidence that Mjollnir exists in that shoe-box?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dilettante
But perhaps you'd prefer a more "divine" example
"Zeus shoots lightening bolts at people who curse his name." (a quality of my hypothetical Zeus)
"If Zeus exists, then when someone curses his name I should observe lightning bolts hitting them." (some evidence to look for)
If, the next time I see someone curse Zeus I then see lightning rain down upon them from on high, I have some evidence for the existence of Zeus.
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In defining the qualities of Zeus, what is your reference? Could it be that a creature like Zeus has been produced already so that you are able to describe the qualities of such a creature from actual practical experience? Or are you inferring some qualities from a creature that has never been produced but is perhaps contained in some folklore?
If not then it'll be a darn good idea to start there before going any further. And, as you go along obtaining evidence of the divine Zeus creature, please keep us informed of your progress.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dilettante
[Sorry it took so long to get back to you on this - I'm in the middle of writing final papers for the semester and time has become rather precious  ] |
Dilettante, I appreciate you taking time to respond in this hectic period of your life (one could sort of wish you hadn't, though). The sentence "If Zeus exists, then when someone curses his name I should observe lightning bolts hitting them." is utterly useless (and I do mean completely void of any use in this context). I could just as well have said that if pink frogs with antlers and big boops exist, then when someone curses Zeus' name I should observe lightning bolts hitting them.