[MD] The End of Faith

[pholden at davtv.com]

Quoting Platt Holden <pholden at davtv.com>:

> > Hi Platt -- 
> > 
> > > A dictionary definition of a word constitutes empirical evidence?
> > > That apparently means empirical evidence now includes what is
> > > cited by an authority --  a very shaky interpretation of empiricism
> > > it seems to me. The physical senses upon which empiricism rests
> > > do not observe word meanings.
> > 
> > I think you are being excessively analytical.  A dictionary definition is no
> > more an "authority" than the alphabet is.
> 
> The alphabet is an "authority?" That news to me. I always considered an 
> authority to be the considered judgment of an individual or group. 

Oops. Seems I misread what you said. You do not claim the alphabet is an
authority as my response implied. Quite the opposite. However, I do say that a
dictionary definition is an authority on the meaning of words. Different
authorities (dictionaries) come up with different definitions.

Best regards,
Plart 







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