Wilkins on demarcation 13 Aug 201413 Aug 2014 Continuing Adam Ford’s series of me as a talking head: Epistemology Philosophy Science
Epistemology Human reasoning 27 Oct 2010 Human reasoning is not simple, neat, and impeccable. It is not akin to a proof in logic. Instead, it draws no clear distinction between deduction, induction, and abduction, because it tends to exploit what we know. Reasoning is more a simulation of the world fleshed out with all our relevant… Read More
Accommodationism Science outreach: A conversation 2 Feb 201420 Feb 2014 From the Freethinkers Blog Con: With PZ Myzer and Aron Ra. Read More
General Science Computers aren’t science 25 Nov 2009 As I read the science feeds for various sites, I am struck how often people are reporting on computers and computer techniques. News flash: Computers aren’t science, any more than glass blowing is chemistry or addition is physics. Computing is a mathematical technique that uses electronic shortcuts. Computation is an… Read More
When one says “anything goes”, does that include “whistling Dixie”, or “playing Calvinball”, or “knock-knock” jokes? And if one entertains the idea that someday someone which produce something which looks like real science, but includes “intelligent design”? Well, what precludes a real scientific theory which includes also whistling Dixie?
The likelihoods of science requiring “Whistling Dixie” are slightly higher than the likelihoods it involves Intelligent Design. I’ve seen a few experiments that needed something nearly as arbitrary as a song to work.