First we have to decide if thinking and believing are properly defined at that their semantic alliances are not misleading. Some believe that they are synonymous. Can one think and believe at the same time? Are the terms synonymous? If they are not synonymous, what is the crucial difference between them?
In order to have a discussion that actually reaches conclusions there must be a commitment made by discussants to fully address the relevant points raised and to resolve them as uniformly agreed to, or to define the points upon which there is disagreement that cannot be resolved--for the record. Ignoring points raised implies either that the points ignored have no merit and are not worthy of discussion (which should be clearly stated so that ambiguousness cannot survive the process) or that there is no need for discussion to resolution as they are agreed to. For example, this point should be accepted or modified or denied for cause by the discussants. This either makes sense, makes no sense, or needs modification to make sense to all discussants until is does. Otherwise, there is no real exchange of points and counterpoints, but only belief in one's own point to the declared or undeclared exclusion of the points ignored. It's about disciplined thinking and discussion. Surely there is some disciplined basis for discussion to resolved conclusions, whether it is this or something else, no? If not, why not? WT ----- Original Message ----- From: "Elmer J. Finck" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 5:17 PM Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Isaac Asimov quote/was Gallup poll on evolution - LAW of Evolution > Chris -- Why don't we use think instead of believe? Would that help? mas > tarde, EJF > > > > Chris Winne <[email protected]> > Sent by: "Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news" > <[email protected]> > 02/14/2009 04:53 PM > Please respond to > Chris Winne <[email protected]> > > > To > [email protected] > cc > > Subject > Re: [ECOLOG-L] Isaac Asimov quote/was Gallup poll on evolution - LAW of > Evolution > > > > > > > Clive Thomson wrote a thought provoking article in Wired magazine ("Why > science will trump only when theory becomes a law") about this topic: > > http://www.wired.com/techbiz/people/magazine/15-11/st_thompson > > Best regards, > > Chris Winne > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "William Silvert" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, February 14, 2009 3:58 AM > Subject: Re: [ECOLOG-L] Isaac Asimov quote/was Gallup poll on evolution > > >>I share the feeeling of Wendee and other respondents that "believe" is > not >>an appropriate word. The problem is that we haven't really come up wth >>alternatives that reflect the inherent skepticism of science but that are > >>also meaningful to the general public. Evolution is a credible theory, >>well-supported by evidence, etc., but none of these phrases have much > bite. >>After all, there is still a lot of common reference to "scientific > proof", >>and any attempts to revise our language to conform to the way that >>scientists think (or should think) will simply weaken our case and be >>jumped on by those who argue that the only thngs we really know are that >>g*d exists, that everything in the bible/koran/etc. is absolutely true, > and >>that theirs is the only true faith. Knowledge is power, ain't it? >> >> Bill Silvert >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Wendee Holtcamp" <[email protected]> >> To: <[email protected]> >> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 6:17 PM >> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Isaac Asimov quote/was Gallup poll on evolution >> >> >>> That is frightening. Wonder why they chose to use "believe in" for this >>> poll... >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news >>> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David Inouye >>> Sent: Friday, February 13, 2009 11:35 AM >>> To: [email protected] >>> Subject: [ECOLOG-L] Gallup poll on evolution >>> >>> > http://www.gallup.com/poll/114544/Darwin-Birthday-Believe-Evolution.aspx >>> >>> PRINCETON, NJ -- On the eve of the 200th anniversary of Charles >>> Darwin's birth, a new Gallup Poll shows that only 39% of Americans >>> say they "believe in the theory of evolution," while a quarter say >>> they do not believe in the theory, and another 36% don't have an >>> opinion either way. These attitudes are strongly related to education >>> and, to an even greater degree, religiosity. >>> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.10.23/1953 - Release Date: 02/14/09 18:01:00
