26th June 2015
“When I say, "Water is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen," I have uttered a quintessential statement of scientific fact. But what if someone doubts this statement? I can appeal to data from chemistry, describing the outcome of simple experiments. But in so doing, I implicitly appeal to the values of empiricism and logic. What if my interlocutor doesn't share these values? What can I say then? What evidence could prove that we should value evidence? What logic could demonstrate the importance of logic? As it turns out, these are the wrong questions. The right question is, why should we care what such a person thinks in the first place?”
June 26th, 2015 at 12:50
Because they’re a legislator, passing laws to control the rest of us, based on their personal superstitions?
June 26th, 2015 at 18:15
Or a judge / justice interpreting those laws and the Constitution under which they were enacted?
Or how about a member of the Executive Branch, making regulations regarding the habitability of our planet?