>Okay, a bit over-dramatic (to say the least), but I think everyone gets
the
>point. Take away the preexisting assumption that Mrs. Jones was
murdered (or
>analogously, that life arose here on Earth) and the assumption based on
it -
>that a murder weapon with Mr. Jones' fingerprints on it must exist . . .
.
We just had a man convicted in this exact kind of case. The prosecuter
calls it cicumstantial evidence instead of circular reasoning. Hopefully
it will be overturned on appeal.
Facts and logic no longer matter in this modern world and science has
become
as "spiritual" as religion. For example, I don't know that carl sagan
ever did a lick of science but he has convinced millions of people that
the universe is so big that there must be all kinds of space aliens out
there.
I propose this situation arose because science pays better than
phillosophy.
>First, it contains the word argue. Second,it takes the form of a logical
>argument.
>
>Premise 1: Cellular life originated on Earth
>Premise 2: Cellular life absolutely requires lipidlike hydrocarbon
derivatives
-------------------------------------------
>Conclusion: Therefore, lipidlike hydrocarbon derivatives must have been
>present on the early Earth
Logic is only useful when every premise is correct. There is no evidence
of premise 1.
>The first cellular life here on Earth was very likely much like todays
(at
>least at the most fundamental levels).
We only have circumstantial evidence of this. It is a circular statement
- the implied preface is omitted, "We have not discovered any other kind
of cellular life therefore . . . ."
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Nov 20 2000 - 15:22:57 EST