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Re: Finally, (Reply to this comment)
by gaviidae
Hi Alex, and thanks for stopping by, and for your commert regarding Facts. "Facts" are referred to in my essay as observations and measurments, either in nature or in controlled experimentation. Many people have difficulty distinquishing between Facts, Conclusions, Opinions and Beliefs.
For example it is a fact the the earth's atmosphere has grown slightly warmer over the last hundred years. It's also a fact that the earth's temperature has varied quite drastically over its entire history---but those observations arer indirect, imprecise and subject to dispute.
It is a fact that the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has also risen in the past hundred years, and will continue to rise unless we curtail CO2 emissions.
That rising CO2 is a primary cause of the rise in temperature is a hypothesis that many climate scientists BELIEVE is being confirmed by further observation. Confirmation of that hypothesis is becoming more and more likely---but it would be premature at this point to say it is a law or a fact.
As I've said before, opinions of experts are still opinions, or beliefs, not facts. Knowledge is a slippery thing---many Christians would say that they "know" that God exists.
An interesting subject, epistomology, and one must be very careful in using terms like fact, knowledge, truth, reality---it's the point of my essay!
Gavia
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Apr 13 '07
12:01 pm PDT
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Finally, (Reply to this comment)
by macresarf1
I got around to your essay, gavia.
Yes, I agree.
Let's always stay with the facts, and follow the facts where they take us.
When we begin with a notion, a prejudice, or a wish fulfillment, and gather around it only the facts that support it, we are in trouble.
Nothing wrong with heresy, so long as it speaks the truth.
Nothing wrong with skepticism, so long as it doesn't just mean, "Well, the hell with the facts presented, I just don't think so."
Follow these codes, and we all learn.
Alex
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Apr 06 '07
11:29 am PDT
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Re: Cute (Reply to this comment)
by gaviidae
A lot of that going around these days, there is no doubt!
Thanks for stopping by Bettega!
Gavia
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Mar 11 '07
11:28 pm PDT
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Cute (Reply to this comment)
by bettega
But the greatest enemy of all is upon us: ignorance and cultural bankruptcy!
Ciao
Bettega
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Mar 11 '07
11:00 am PDT
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An apology--- (Reply to this comment)
by gaviidae
---to jankp---for my shameless theft of her writing ploy utilizing a fictional but authoritativre alter ego!
Well, Jan---they say that "--imitation is the sincerst form of flattery!"
Gavia
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Mar 09 '07
10:11 am PST
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Re: Long time no fight... (Reply to this comment)
by gaviidae
Hey Vicfar---What an unexpected delight to hear from you, far and away my FAVORITE intellectual left wing extremist!
I violently agree with you that politics and religion MUST be kept seperate. However,comma, some aspects of left wing politics and even science are taking on some of the characteristics of religion---a point I tried to indirectly suggest in this essay.
Hope you're ding well and getting adjusted to life away from the evil empire---and I'm sure you are! Looking forward to seeing some writings from you! Maybe we can find something to once again harshly disagree about---
Gavia
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Mar 09 '07
10:05 am PST
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Long time no fight... (Reply to this comment)
by vicfar
How's life in the Evil Empire?
But there is not too much to fight on this topic. The only way for society to get along is by separating firmly religion and politics, simply because your "Left" (US, Europe)is tolerant and your "Right" is not (look at the history of religion in the West...and now in the Middle East).
My preferred way to get along is for your "Right" to become extinct. Churches are empty here in Europe and they are becoming museums or concert halls. Those who claim a religious revival in Europe are really nuts. Indeed, Northern European countries (Belgium, Holland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland etc.) are well on their way to becoming atheist (or at least non-religious) societies, a real FIRST for mankind. Whether that is good or bad...you decide.
But that does not mean Europeans get along...they have many more things to bicker about!
Cheers
V.
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Mar 09 '07
8:59 am PST
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