most of us agree on the matter of religion because we think the evidence is clear-cut enough to lead us to the same conclusion.
Right, OK.
But one thing:
In each of these cases, the answer is simply yes or no.
Science is not nearly so black-and-white. If it were simply a matter of running an experiment with “good methodology,” it would be easy. But I know how academia works. It’s messy.
For instance, does the available evidence support the conclusion that this new thing causes cancer? Yes or no, please. Because the scientists don’t agree, and it’s not a simple matter of figuring out which side is being irrational.
For instance, does the available evidence support the conclusion that this new thing causes cancer? Yes or no, please.
Which new thing?
As I said, humans are fallible, we have disagreements about factual matters. If we were all perfect judges of evidence, then all scientists with access to the same information would agree on how likely it is that some thing causes cancer. Sometimes making judgments of evidence is hard, sometimes it’s easier. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a right answer in each case.
Right. It’s not that there isn’t always a yes or no answer, it’s just that it’s sometimes difficult for us to work out what the correct judgment is.
It’s possible that religion is such a case, but most of us here agree that the state of the evidence there is easier to judge than, for instance, the latest carcinogen suspect.
Right, OK.
But one thing:
Science is not nearly so black-and-white. If it were simply a matter of running an experiment with “good methodology,” it would be easy. But I know how academia works. It’s messy.
For instance, does the available evidence support the conclusion that this new thing causes cancer? Yes or no, please. Because the scientists don’t agree, and it’s not a simple matter of figuring out which side is being irrational.
Which new thing?
As I said, humans are fallible, we have disagreements about factual matters. If we were all perfect judges of evidence, then all scientists with access to the same information would agree on how likely it is that some thing causes cancer. Sometimes making judgments of evidence is hard, sometimes it’s easier. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a right answer in each case.
Any one of many things whose safety is disputed. The point is that it’s not so simple as right and wrong in science
That’s what I mean. Even with the same evidence available, scientists don’t all come to a the same conclusion.
And so I think that while in the case of the age of the earth it clearly does, but in many cases we just can’t tell.
Right. It’s not that there isn’t always a yes or no answer, it’s just that it’s sometimes difficult for us to work out what the correct judgment is.
It’s possible that religion is such a case, but most of us here agree that the state of the evidence there is easier to judge than, for instance, the latest carcinogen suspect.