 |
 |
Well... In the times when John's Revelation was written, man had no idea that we are flying thru space on a tiny speck of dust, on the outer arm of a spiral galaxy, in a universe that has uncounted millions of galaxies. Further, his prediction of a fiery conflagration as the last chapter of earth's history will only come true if enough of us believe the story. But if it happens, WWIII on earth will be an indiscernable blip on the energy scope for most of the universe. Science doesn't know much more than John about the end of the universe. We are like travelers who woke up in the middle of a bus trip to find our bus has busted the guardrail and is airborne. We're trying to figure out what happened. But at least we are not jumping to conclusions. Is science uncommon? It's becoming moreso in these days of religious fervor. But it shouldn't be. People don't know it, but we all use the scientific method several times a day. But there's a point at which people's beliefs get in the way, and the scientific method is abandoned, in order to avoid the pain of discovery. I think it is wise to have assumptions, rather than set-in-stone beliefs. I try, humbly, to live each day based on the preponderance of evidence, to put it clumsily. That's a little of what I think. What do you think? Enjoy! Rick McGirr Email: [log in to unmask] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ned Gardner" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, March 20, 2005 5:46 PM Subject: Re: Moral certainty > Rick: > > What is scientific about common sense? > > By definition it is only common. > > Science and religion do agree that the > end of the "she-bang" will be rather warm. > > What do you think? > > Ned > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rick McGirr" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Saturday, March 19, 2005 2:13 PM > Subject: Re: Moral certainty > > > > As a matter of fact, I take great comfort in the fact that my beliefs > > are verifiable, and refutable, through the scientific method (also > > known as common sense). There is nothing truly permanent in the > > universe, including the whole she-"bang" itself. And that is the true > > source of humility. > > > > Rick > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Ned Gardner" <[log in to unmask]> > > To: <[log in to unmask]> > > Sent: Friday, March 18, 2005 1:59 PM > > Subject: Re: Moral certainty > > > > > >> Ray: > >> > >> Reasonable doubt; moral certainty > >> > >> > >> When one is "beyond doubt" or an issue has been settled "beyond > > doubt," it > >> means that certainty has been established to such a degree that > > there can be > >> no question whatsoever of the truth. On almost every question, the > > only > >> people who claim to be 100% beyond doubt are gods, egotists, and > > fanatics. > >> Mature people generally allow for the possibility, however slim, > > that what > >> they Know for Certain may be disproved. > >> > >> > >> > >> REASONABLE DOUBT -- ".refers to the degree of certainty required of > > a juror > >> before he or she can make a legally valid determination of the guilt > > of a > >> criminal defendant.The term doesn't require that the evidence be so > > clear > >> that no possibility of error exists; it means that the evidence must > > be so > >> conclusive that all reasonable doubts are removed from the mind of > > the > >> ordinary person. See also moral certainty." > >> > >> "MORAL CERTAINTY -- certainty beyond a reasonable doubt; a > > conviction based > >> on persuasive reasons and excluding doubts that a contrary > > conclusion can > >> exit. A juror is said to be morally certain of a fact when he or she > > would > >> act in reliance upon its truth in matters of greatest importance to > > himself > >> or herself." > >> > >> "REASONABLE MAN (OR PERSON) -- a phrase used to denote a > > hypothetical person > >> who exercises qualities of attention, knowledge, intelligence and > > judgment > >> that society requires of its members for the protection of their own > >> interests and the interests of others." > >> > >> Ned > >> > >> From http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_ > >> > >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> From: "rayilynlee" <[log in to unmask]> > >> To: <[log in to unmask]> > >> Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2005 12:11 PM > >> Subject: Re: Moral certainty > >> > >> > >> > Moral certainty is the cause of wars, bigotry, intolerance and > > much > >> > suffering. The person who is certain he is right about as yet > >> > unanswerable questions is a tremendous obstacle to progress. > > Education > >> > teaches you how much you don't know and defines the > > boundaries of > >> > your > >> > knowledge. > >> > > >> > My education tells me a cell is a cell and there is good reason > > to call > >> > it a cell, not a person. I need to hear some good reasons why > > a cell > >> > is > >> > a person to change my mind, not ooh don't name-call. > >> > > >> > Rayilyn Brown, MA major History. minor Philosophy, UCLA > >> > ----- Original Message ----- > >> > From: "Ned Gardner" <[log in to unmask]> > >> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > >> > Sent: Wednesday, March 16, 2005 7:25 PM > >> > Subject: Re: Souls in limbo > >> > > >> > > >> >> Don: > >> >> > >> >> Moral certainty is always a sign of cultural inferiority. The > > more > >> >> uncivilized the man, the surer he is that he knows precisely what > > is > >> >> right > >> >> and what is wrong. All human progress, even in morals, has been > > the work > >> >> of > >> >> men who have doubted the current moral values, not of men who > > have > >> >> whooped > >> >> them up and tried to enforce them. The truly civilized man is > > always > >> >> skeptical and tolerant. > >> >> -- H. L. Mencken, Minority Report (1956) > >> >> > >> >> > >> >> Ned > >> >> ----- Original Message ----- > >> >> From: "Don Mckinley" <[log in to unmask]> > >> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> > >> >> Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 2:32 PM > >> >> Subject: Re: Souls in limbo > >> >> > >> >> > >> > >> ------------------------------------------------------------------- - > > -- > >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > >> > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- -- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn