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To: Right Wing Professor
Besides, all science is based to an extent on inductive reasoning. Only someone ignorant of science would claim otherwise.

If you recheck my post you will find that I never claimed that inductive reasoning was unscientific, only that inductive reasoning does not have the same validity as deductive reasoning. Inductive reasoning is indeed proper (and necessary) in science; it just does not lead to conclusions with the same confidence as deductive reasoning or direct empirical observation. Nor should you take umbrage with my characterization of the conclusions of natural evolution as conjecture. This is not meant as a pejorative but as a recognition of limits of the study. Indeed, as I am sure you would agree, the proper use of conjecture is necessary in science. I also want to note that I never said the natural evolution was false (I believe that the premise is unprovable either way), only that is should not cloak its conclusions with the same confidence as the empirical sciences.

12 posted on 11/04/2005 1:53:28 PM PST by Petrosius
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To: Petrosius
also want to note that I never said the natural evolution was false (I believe that the premise is unprovable either way), only that is should not cloak its conclusions with the same confidence as the empirical sciences.

Evolutionary biology is an empirical science, and in no respect is it substantially different from any other empirical science.

13 posted on 11/04/2005 1:56:50 PM PST by Right Wing Professor (If you love peace, prepare for war. If you hate violence, own a gun.)
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