Life on Earth older than thought?

[Skybird]

Yes. So does a number of other thinkling schools and xyz-isms as well, Radical Constructivism maybe one of the most prominent here.

I think I understood you correctly, I just think that it is a discussion about almost nothing. If you plan to illustrate to show me that my thoughts regarding theory also are just a theory, let's call it Skybirdianism, you must not, for I know that. The only question is if there is a theory that makes more sense than mine, or not.

[Letum]

Originally Posted by Skybird

[...] The only question is if there is a theory that makes more sense than mine, or not.

There is the problem. If you are not assigning any truth values to
Skybirdianism, then what does it matter if it makes more or less sense than
another theory?

[Skybird]

To find out how to come along in this life, and get along a way that hopefully is safer and more comfortable and less fearsome than others.

It's like with a boat whose captain got the order to sail to a distant point with some treacherous reef in the way. He must be careful, but no matter how careful he is, he never can gain an ultimate certainty:

He may get through, then all he knows is that the path he has chosen did work, but he does not know whether or not there is a shorter, safer passage, a more comfortable route available. All he knows is that he survived on the route he has choosen.

Or he sails into his doom, the reef damages and sinks his ship, and the captain looses crew, ship and his own life. then all he knows is that the course he has set did not pass beyond the obstacle. He does not know whether it did not fit by a huge or a small margin, and does not even know if there is any free passage through the reef at all. All he knows when dying is that the choice he made, did not earn him success.

[Letum]

Can not a idea that makes less sense than other ideas do all those things?

[Skybird]

Häh...?

[Letum]

What makes theories in Skybirdianism that make good sense better than ones
that make less sense if the one that make less sense is of more practical use?

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Letum

What makes theories in Skybirdianism that make good sense better than ones
that make less sense if the one that make less sense is of more practical use?

More word surgery? Will lead you nowhere, but anyhow:

What you say is no contradiction, since we tend to push those theories in science that are best suited to enable us to pragmatically carry on, both in preparing the next method of observation, and to supplemm ent our existing set of theories. These form our currently valid paradigm. Paradigms do not get revolted again that often. Maybe once every 50 years or so. In case of choice between two possible theories or answers, so the unwritten golden rule in science: choose the theory of the two that explains the same thing in the simplier way. No need to make things complicated when not gaining something from that. Chose the more complicated explanation when the simplier answers do not make sense or contradict known data.

and if all of a sudden you make a discovery or observation that violates all known stuff alltotgether, etheir burn the author on the stakes, or kick all old theory alltogether.

You once said you find mindgames over words like this entertaining, and i replied I take not as much entertainment from them. I think it still is like this with us two. Forgive when I leave the train at the next station then. There is a long awaited DVD and a bottle of red vine waiting to be killed.