--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "curtisdeltablues" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > "> 2) in the absence of an obvious natural cause, there must be an > > unknown and un-natural cause > > +++ In the absence of an obvious natural cause, there must be an > unknown and natural cause otherwise what you see isn't happening. > Like the rest of us, Mr. Kurtz can make observations that > reflect his opinion and don't have great merit. N." > > > If i understand your point correctly, the difference is between one > person saying "I heard a sound last night", and another saying "It > must be a ghost". > +++ It's more like I wondered if something had a cause that couldn't be seen as scientific, would Mr Kurtz deny it happened. Maybe it's a case of "believing is seeing" as Yoda said. N.
> --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Nelson" <nelsonriddle2001@> > wrote: > > > > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, new_morning_blank_slate > > <no_reply@> wrote: > > > > > > Curtis, > > > I agree with the general point that using words in discussions with > > > others that have a perjorative connonation -- to them -- is not > > > usually helpful to the tone and fruitfulness of the discussion. Often > > > this occurs when there is not a common understanding of meaning. > > > Reading your recent posts /cites from Kurtz helped me sharpen up my > > > definition of "magical thinking" -- as I hope, perhaps naievly (that > > > they read it), it has for others > > > > > > And I don't think the term is necessarily pejoritive when understood. > > > Some ascribe to its merits and value, others do not. Its becomes a > > > simple statement of fact about someones mode of inquiry for one > who has > > > "an actual ignorance of the natural causes of events in question, > > > ... the assumption that, in the absence of an obvious natural cause, > > > there must be an unknown and un-natural cause. ... These two factors > > > in conjunction allow for the development of ad hoc explanations, often > > > relying upon an assumption that correlation demonstrates causation. > > > ... This magical thinking is certainly irrational, in that it > > > deliberately bases conclusions upon a clear lack of demonstrable > > > evidence and without regard for logical coherence or consistency. ... > > > but why are people tempted to accept these stories? The explanation is > > > twofold - first our innate creativity, and second our penchant for > > > seeking patterns. Together, they can lead people to false beliefs. " > > > (Kurtz) > > > > > > There are those on this list that openly proclaim, or demonstrate a > > > strong belief in via, their writings that: > > > > > > 1) correlation demonstrates causation > > > > > > 2) in the absence of an obvious natural cause, there must be an > > > unknown and un-natural cause > > > +++ In the absence of an obvious natural cause, there must be an > > unknown and natural cause otherwise what you see isn't happening. > > Like the rest of us, Mr. Kurtz can make observations that > > reflect his opinion and don't have great merit. N. > > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Home is just a click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/DHchtC/3FxNAA/yQLSAA/UlWolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/