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To: KMJames; Dimensio

no - you don't "got it"

natural science is limited to dealing with evidence and theories concerning that evidence - theories which explain the essentially mechanical interactions of matter and energy and which make predictions of future observations of such interactions.

We can say with a great deal of assurance that, back to a certain point, we understand the mechanics and timeline of how things have moved along. We can also, with a fair degree of certainty, debunk many superstitious stories which run counter to the mass of evidence we have available for study.

Can we absolutely prove any explanation in some ultimate sense?
No. There does not seem to be any end to the data or its variations, so no scientific explanation can ever be complete and absolutely inarguable - even setting aside absurd philosophical solipsistic quibbling on the reliablity of observation and the questionable nature of "reality".

Can we absolutely disprove any superstitious story in some ultimate sense?
Not really, no. The hypothetical existence of an OMNIPOTENT and INFINITELY SUBTLE (perhaps even DEVIOUS) and IMMATERIAL god-thing which is not detectable through direct or indirect observation cannot ever be completely dispelled, as semantical argument is not so fact-bound as science.


270 posted on 09/29/2005 2:09:49 PM PDT by King Prout (19sep05 - I want at least 2 Saiga-12 shotguns. If you have leads, let me know)
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To: King Prout

Yeah, what you said. I think I agree.


275 posted on 09/29/2005 2:31:44 PM PDT by KMJames
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