Inference and its role in NS (General)

by dhw, Tuesday, January 11, 2011, 12:48 (5064 days ago) @ xeno6696

MATT: Our recent discussions about my position in terms of evolution by NS is illuminated a bit in this blogpost [concerning the role of inference in phylogeny]. [...] This ties to two claims I make repeatedly:-1.Science is ONLY about model building. [...]
2.Inference always inherits the problem of probabilities...meaning that science (using inference as its primary tool) is only ever about probabilities, and that this means that though we would like them to be dogmatic, scientific "truths" are always approximations.-I've never been 100% sure what you mean by model building. Is it the same as theory? If not, what is the difference?-I don't think any of us have actually disputed the claim that science is about probabilities rather than dogmatic "truths" when it comes to questions relating to the origin and nature of life and the universe. I would suggest, though, that technology proves there are some objective truths in science, unless we're going to attribute the functional efficiency of our cars, planes, computers etc. to sheer luck.-As regards theories relating to life and the universe, the problem I have with your approach is not the two claims you make above. It's the following combination of statements and circumstances: you say that "to me only knowledge counts", and "it is intrinsically unreasonable to put belief in something when it is not supported by positive evidence". You go on to accept the theory of evolution by NS (which is not knowledge), presumably on the basis of what you regard as positive evidence, but you criticize David for accepting the theory of design (which is not knowledge) on the basis of what he regards as positive evidence. Doesn't this mean that 1) for you it is not just knowledge that counts, and 2) you are the one who decides what is or isn't positive evidence? -As regards our old morality discussion under "The Gods ... All of Them!", in my post of 6 December I slated you for changing the subject whenever challenged and threatened to have you breathalysed if you missed the target again. Satyansh was so alarmed that he called for a time out. I told him that you and I actually had a lot of fun together, and you reassured him: "Trust me, dhw and I are chill cats...he's right, my school performance is keeping me preoccupied, and he's keeping me honest by paying more attention than I am. And letting me know it." -I thought that was a delightful way to end the discussion!