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jonsca
jonsca
1:10 PM
Wow, I feel like I haven't come in here for ages :(
 
 
5 hours later…
vzn
vzn
6:30 PM
re ID. wow. fyi dawkins is an interesting figure in this area (anti ID side). ran across this new documentary, am vaguely interested in checking it out... anyone else?
Aug 22 at 14:49, by DampeS8N
So I have to ask the question: Is there any means, other than being a scientist myself, that I can separate the true position from the false one?
DS8N this is a very deep question crossing multiple fields incl somewhat philosophy and sociology, history of science, etc.
fittingly, see that you point to some discussion in the Philosophy chat room.
your line of thinking wrt ID reminds me of the debate over climate change aka "global warming".
there seem to be many similarities.
have not studied this much but you also seem to be referring to what is known by some academics as epistemology...
which reminds me of a famous philosophical quote by a non philosopher...
> what is truth? --Pilate
this also reminds me of new psychology research that examines/ shows that people have self-reinforcing mechanisms wrt belief systems/ ideology. its an active area of research.
the term "echo chamber" comes to mind.
some of the research is wrt political beliefs but seems to have much broader implications.
also my understanding is that the historical movement known as postmodernism questions the nature of ("absolute") Truth... it tends to assert there are only different competing Belief Systems....
the new theory of memetics is worthwhile/ related....
the psychology research seems to show that tendency toward self-reinforcing belief systems is quite likely an innate human feature, ie nearly hardcoded instinct so to speak. or maybe "instinct" isnt quite the right term... "thinking pattern/ tendency/ groove"?
 

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