9th August 2009
“In religion and politics people's beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand, and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.”
Mark Twain1835 – 1910
August 9th, 2009 at 15:47
A mouthful, but oh so true.
August 9th, 2009 at 17:39
The same can be said for science. Or do you think everyone has first-hand knowledge of scientific, empirically verifiable fact? All of us rely on “experts” of various kinds to shape our “beliefs and convictions.” Still, ya gotta love Mark Twain.
August 10th, 2009 at 14:54
Ah, but in science the authorities and “experts” have examined the questions of issue. We know who they are, when they lived, and what they wrote. We can also follow their evidence trail to recreate the answers that they found. They are all very well documented and found in more than just one publication.
Further, the word ‘belief’ has no place in science. It would be like saying “I believe in evolution.” Evolution is a theory of science. It does not require belief.
August 20th, 2009 at 22:16
Oxymoronic, why so obnoxious?? You seem to be trying really hard to disagree and look so “enlightened”… okay, so you are maybe a little more logical than the average religious fruitcake… I might believe that… but, damn, your just as passive aggressive. Come out and freaking say what you want to say… “Or do you think everyone has first-hand knowledge of scientific, empirically verifiable fact?” Are you trying to say that knowledge (please please please do not incorrectly call it a belief!!!!) of science is equivalent to a religious belief? It’s not a “conviction” that there is gravity. Doesn’t matter whether or not you “believe” in it… you’re not going to fucking float!