🚀 go-pugleaf

Peter Ashby (p-ashby@nimr.MAPS.mrc.ac.uk) wrote on 29 Sep 1998 11:58:45 GMT:

> Just a few points for you Yuri.

> 1. You used the term 'epistemological relativism' in an attempted
> deragoatory response to me. I asked you to define it and explain why it
> was relevant to my argument. You have failed to do so. Until you do so I
> will assume that you used the term without knowing its meaning.

Many current problems in philosophy of science find their source in
epistemological relativism. Relativism, the claim that rules for justified
theory acceptance can vary from context to context, leads to the troubling
conclusion that rational theory choice is impossible. 

There are different types of relativism. Often it finds its source in the
claim, based on Hume, that evidence radically underdetermines theory
choice. Also, some relativists use or misuse the thesis of Kuhn that the
contexts of theory choice are 'incommensurable'.

Rationalism, the claim that there are rational and objective standards for
theory evaluation, is usually opposed to relativism.

So epistemological relativism is really a kind of a common New Age
fallacy. Such Newagers love to cast doubt on the ability of science to
provide good answers to the questions scientists and historians usually
ask.

> 2. In the botanical thread you tried to argue that proof that one
> plant on your EI list was human introduced, was proof that all plants
> on your list were human introduced.

You're being dishonest. I've never made such a claim. I merely said that
these arguments are cumulative. But you can't read.

> I pointed out that to stop this being ridiculously absurd (rather than
> just absurd) you need to explain why your list stopped where it did
> rather than including the trees and the grass. Since you haven't
> responded I assume you have withdrawn your flawed logic.

That's because you don't have a brain, my poor misguided friend.

Yuri.

Yuri Kuchinsky -=O=- http://www.globalserve.net/~yuku 

Alexandrians are adepts at flattery and imposture and hypocrisy, ready
enough with fawning words, but causing universal disaster with their
loose and unbridled lips.     ||     Philo, "The Embassy to Gaius"