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Storm
SFN Regular

USA
708 Posts

Posted - 12/04/2004 :  19:16:00   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Storm's Homepage Send Storm a Private Message
The simpliest theory fits the facts. Basic and Simple. Staight and to the point But how do we define Simple?

Storm
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Dave W.
Info Junkie

USA
26021 Posts

Posted - 12/05/2004 :  00:39:55   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Dave W.'s Homepage Send Dave W. a Private Message
Sorry, but you're wrong about Occam's Razor, Storm.

You could look it up, and correct your "knowledge" of the subject. You could even click Google's "I'm feeling lucky" button and get a good write-up on it, though I'm not sure that it (in particular) would enlighten you on your misconceptions.

In other words, you might have to do more research to come to a truly workable understanding of Occam's Razor. But you wouldn't want that knowledge handed to you, would you?

- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too.
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Storm
SFN Regular

USA
708 Posts

Posted - 12/06/2004 :  08:22:25   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Storm's Homepage Send Storm a Private Message
No I would definetly not wanted it handed to me. So off to learn more.
I am always open to be enlightened to not would stagnate.

Where I feel you are

What might be your interpertation may not be mine

Science is theory based on theory

Time for a new theory

Storm
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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 12/06/2004 :  08:37:03   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message
I beg to differ, friend Storm; scientific theory is based upon testable evidence. Testable evidence, by it's very nature, is based upon facts. These facts are assembled, tested, and in due course are incorporated into a theory.

Simple, no?


"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude

Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,

and Crypto-Communist!

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Storm
SFN Regular

USA
708 Posts

Posted - 12/06/2004 :  09:09:31   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Storm's Homepage Send Storm a Private Message
Really contemplating Occams Razor. So what you are saying or Occams Razor is saying is the it was the cat's claws that moved the slipper or that your Soldier was just was a trick light and fog?

Storm
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Ricky
SFN Die Hard

USA
4907 Posts

Posted - 12/06/2004 :  11:46:55   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Send Ricky an AOL message Send Ricky a Private Message
Occams Razor says that when there is equal evidence, the simpilest solution is more likely the correct one. Now by simpilest, it means to go with what you already know, don't invent new things to explain events when what you already know can explain it equally well.

The light/fog explains the appearence of a ghosts just as well as the fact that it was an actual ghost. We already know of the existance of light/fog. We have yet to have any solid evidence on ghosts. Therefore, Occams Razor says it was the light/fog.

Why continue? Because we must. Because we have the call. Because it is nobler to fight for rationality without winning than to give up in the face of continued defeats. Because whatever true progress humanity makes is through the rationality of the occasional individual and because any one individual we may win for the cause may do more for humanity than a hundred thousand who hug their superstitions to their breast.
- Isaac Asimov
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filthy
SFN Die Hard

USA
14408 Posts

Posted - 12/06/2004 :  12:58:42   [Permalink]  Show Profile Send filthy a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Storm

Really contemplating Occams Razor. So what you are saying or Occams Razor is saying is the it was the cat's claws that moved the slipper or that your Soldier was just was a trick light and fog?

My ghost was a somewhat beautiful trick of the light and fog. Don't know anything about your cat.


"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)

"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres


"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude

Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,

and Crypto-Communist!

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Dave W.
Info Junkie

USA
26021 Posts

Posted - 12/06/2004 :  21:37:42   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Dave W.'s Homepage Send Dave W. a Private Message
Ricky wrote:
quote:
Occams Razor says that when there is equal evidence, the simpilest solution is more likely the correct one.
To phrase it more precisely, the Razor suggests that, given two (or more) hypotheses (or theories) which explain all of the available evidence equally well, the one which requires the fewest assumptions is more likely to be correct.

- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too.
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Siberia
SFN Addict

Brazil
2322 Posts

Posted - 12/07/2004 :  05:41:49   [Permalink]  Show Profile  Visit Siberia's Homepage  Send Siberia an AOL message  Send Siberia a Yahoo! Message Send Siberia a Private Message
quote:
Originally posted by Storm

No I would definetly not wanted it handed to me. So off to learn more.
I am always open to be enlightened to not would stagnate.

Where I feel you are

What might be your interpertation may not be mine

Science is theory based on theory

Time for a new theory



Science:

Fact: things, when left without support, always go down.
Feeling: I wonder why?
Hypothesis: There's something pulling them down.
Testing, researching, analyzing and calculating.
Theory: things go down because the Earth pulls them down. This force's known as gravity.

"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa

"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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