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Reload this Page Trusting the evidence, distrusting the evidence, and explaining the evidence
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Old 12-04-2011, 07:02 AM   #71
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I will call this formulation the methodology of Reciprocal Expectations. Simply stated:
For a theory to be most probable, the evidence should expect the theory (plausibility) and the theory should expect the evidence (explanatory power). If, for a given theory, both criteria are fulfilled significantly more than for all competing theories, then the given theory is probable.
What is your opinion on that?
I have no opinion on it because I can't make sense of it. Sentient beings have expectations. Evidence and theories don't.
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Old 12-04-2011, 09:36 AM   #72
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I will call this formulation the methodology of Reciprocal Expectations. Simply stated:
For a theory to be most probable, the evidence should expect the theory (plausibility) and the theory should expect the evidence (explanatory power). If, for a given theory, both criteria are fulfilled significantly more than for all competing theories, then the given theory is probable.
What is your opinion on that?
I have no opinion on it because I can't make sense of it. Sentient beings have expectations. Evidence and theories don't.
Sorry, I thought it was clear, but I will explain further.

When I say, "evidence expects theory," it is shorthand for, "a sentient being reasonably expects the truth of the theory given that the sentient being accepts the evidence."

When I say, "theory expects evidence," it is shorthand for, "a sentient being reasonably expects the existence of the evidence given that the sentient being accepts the truth of the theory."
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Old 12-04-2011, 10:46 PM   #73
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When I say, "evidence expects theory," it is shorthand for, "a sentient being reasonably expects the truth of the theory given that the sentient being accepts the evidence."

When I say, "theory expects evidence," it is shorthand for, "a sentient being reasonably expects the existence of the evidence given that the sentient being accepts the truth of the theory."
All human beings are sentient, so you seem to be proposing some generalization about human cognition. I do not believe that people in general think in the manner you describe here.

Nor do I care much. I have my own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory. It is not a widespread idea outside the scientific community, but I believe it is the correct one.
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Old 12-05-2011, 07:09 AM   #74
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When I say, "evidence expects theory," it is shorthand for, "a sentient being reasonably expects the truth of the theory given that the sentient being accepts the evidence."

When I say, "theory expects evidence," it is shorthand for, "a sentient being reasonably expects the existence of the evidence given that the sentient being accepts the truth of the theory."
All human beings are sentient, so you seem to be proposing some generalization about human cognition. I do not believe that people in general think in the manner you describe here.

Nor do I care much. I have my own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory. It is not a widespread idea outside the scientific community, but I believe it is the correct one.
OK, cool, thanks. So, what is your own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory?
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Old 12-05-2011, 08:36 AM   #75
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... Sentient beings have expectations. Evidence and theories don't.
No, Doug. Sentient beings have FEELINGS.

And Sentience has ZERO value as evidence.
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Old 12-05-2011, 11:15 PM   #76
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OK, cool, thanks. So, what is your own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory?
Evidence is a set of observed facts. A theory is a proposed explanation of the observations, typically involving the inferred occurrence of various phenomena that cannot be directly observed.
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Old 12-06-2011, 12:30 AM   #77
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OK, cool, thanks. So, what is your own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory?
Evidence is a set of observed facts. A theory is a proposed explanation of the observations, typically involving the inferred occurrence of various phenomena that cannot be directly observed.
No, Doug.

Evidence may not be a set of observed facts. Evidence may not even be truthful.

Evidence can simply be statements presented in any argument.

Even in court trials some may give evidence that is false but go undetected.

For example, the NT contains statements that can be used as evidence to support Mythology.

The statements in the NT may be evidence that people Believed Jesus existed as the Child of a Ghost in antiquity but the conception of Jesus as described in gLuke cannot be evidence of Observed facts.
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Old 12-06-2011, 06:46 AM   #78
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OK, cool, thanks. So, what is your own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory?
Evidence is a set of observed facts. A theory is a proposed explanation of the observations, typically involving the inferred occurrence of various phenomena that cannot be directly observed.
I don't disagree in the least.
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Old 12-06-2011, 07:30 AM   #79
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OK, cool, thanks. So, what is your own idea about the proper relationship between evidence and theory?
Evidence is a set of observed facts. A theory is a proposed explanation of the observations, typically involving the inferred occurrence of various phenomena that cannot be directly observed.
I don't disagree in the least.
Please, look in a dictionary for the meaning of the word "evidence". You will see that 'evidence' may be mere statements.
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Old 12-07-2011, 03:38 AM   #80
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Evidence is a set of observed facts. A theory is a proposed explanation of the observations, typically involving the inferred occurrence of various phenomena that cannot be directly observed.
No, Doug.
Your dissent is noted.
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