Re: <none>

pdd@gcc.cc.md.us
19 Sep 1996 23:35:32 EDT

Steve Clark wrote...

SS>I don't entirely agree with the statement that, "One can easily chose one
SS>particular explanation from several proposed........"

SS>This sounds as if all explanations have the same probability, where in fact
SS>they may not.

In general, I agree with you. Unfortunately we see the acceptance of
many explanations that have little or nearly no probability.

SS>So, we are wise to use caution, but we are also wise to pick the most
SS>probable explanation.

As a matter of economy. We all have a tendency to express the unknown in
terms that we tend to understand and are comfortable with. We are wiser
to pursue all three explanations if we can. Even a poor theory, if
correctly pursued, can lead to key observations that may lead to a
better theory. As Francis Bacon noted, truth arises more easily from
error than from confusion.

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"Putting a question correctly is one thing and finding the answer to it
is something quite different."
Anton Chekhov
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Paul Durham
pdd@gcc.cc.md.us

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