European Tribune - Comments - Before and After Science

Before and After Science | 111 comments (111 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

No one (none / 1)

What's so wrong with uncertainty?

by Nomad on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 10:32:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (none / 0)

Isn't certainty better?

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 10:44:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (4.00 / 3)

Only when you're properly certain, as opposed to certain by fiat.

One of the problems with some religious types is that they expect absolute truth, the type sold by religions, from science as well.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 10:46:22 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (4.00 / 2)

You mean certainty by fiat is not certainty?

There is a whole scientific/enlightened narrative implicit here.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 10:54:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (none / 0)

I'd add that certainty is doesn't exist ... and there's a narrative to play with.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 10:58:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (none / 0)

That's even worse, at least astrologers and priests offer absolute certainty.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 11:03:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (none / 1)

Yup. I've found that a lot of people have great trouble with the idea of a universe that doesn't have any absolute certainties.

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 11:05:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: No one (none / 1)

I know I certainly do. I trust science to provide certainties! :)

Good tentative answers are better than unprovable/unfalsifiable final answers. See Asimov on The Relativity of Wrong

-----
sapere aude

by Number 6 on Thu Jul 19th, 2007 at 11:31:13 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Before and After Science | 111 comments (111 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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