[MD] Alternatives to the scientific method

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting David M <davidint at blueyonder.co.uk>:

> Hi Platt
> 
> Good point about dishonourable values, but not quite sure what
> more truthful values would be like. Of course, we can reason
> about values, challenge each other's values, and consider their
> full and long term consequences. And sometimes getting the
> semantics right is important.
> 
> Regards
> David M
 
Hi David,

"More truthful values" are intellectual pattens of higher quality. For example
in the local paper there's quite an argument going on about the age of the universe.
Some say 6,000 years; others in the billions of years. Now nobody can "prove" his
case one way or the other since no one is around today to give us an eyewitness
account. And even eyewitness accounts can be challenged. So, like Pirsig recommends,
one looks at truth claims like paintings in a gallery, choosing those of higher
quality. In this case, I give more truth value to the billions of years claim
based on my confidence in the story told by cosmologists rather than that of 
Biblical scribes. The preponderance of evidence seems to be with the cosmologists.

Hope this example clarifies what I meant.

Regards,
Platt
  

    

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