In a sense. In another sense a belief is just a statement that is held to be true. BOth are fine so long as we keep one eye on which we are using. — Banno
The wild animal metaphor is apt; for the rest, I'll await the details. — Banno
I'm retired. I sometimes forget what day it is. Also, in Hawaii it's 7:30 pm on Friday now. There, tomorrow will be Saturday. — T Clark
Is that a fact? — Banno
But it is also apparent that there are facts that are not provisional. — Banno
...determined... — T Clark
Being true is what makes a statement a fact, assented to or not. — Banno
Stephen Jay Gould said:
In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent. — T Clark
It's akin to answering the philosophical question "what is yellow" with "bananas". — Bartricks
Even if it were true, it would not tell us what a fact itself 'is'. — Bartricks
I like that. You almost save the word 'metaphysics' from oblivion. — Zugzwang
...but pragmatism would have us throw out the sketch and draw something else. Failing to see the distinction between truth and belief they see belief can change and decide nothing is true.It's like we start with a sketch, see something missing, and add to it. — Zugzwang
That's another zinger. There's an anti-metaphysician within you, clawing its way out. — Zugzwang
But you'll have to fix the sentence above. As I asked elsewhere, what is the form of the answer that could tell you what a fact is? What more can you ask for than a definition...a context-relevant description of usage? What's a shovel? Well, we use it to dig, see. No, I mean what is a shovel, really? It's as if there's an ultra-vague Beyond that haunts metaphysics. — Zugzwang
That's not an answer to the question. — Bartricks
That's a false statement — Bartricks
You lot are so confused it is painful. — Bartricks
There's an ambiguity to the word 'is' that makes questions such as "what is a fact?" ambiguous. — Bartricks
insight into what a fact is made of, so to speak. — Bartricks
I don't know if you've come across Bartricks in your wandering through the forum yet. He likes to insult people rather than engage in a collegial discussion. — T Clark
I have said that a fact is what's asserted by a true proposition. Now, if you disagree then kindly tell me what you'd call what's asserted by a true proposition. — Bartricks
This is science apologetics.Stephen Jay Gould said:
In science, 'fact' can only mean 'confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent. — T Clark
There's an ambiguity to the word 'is' that makes questions such as "what is a fact?" ambiguous. — Bartricks
You think? I find it a bit sad that those hereabouts are so ready to dispatch truth to the backroom. — Banno
...but pragmatism would have us throw out the sketch and draw something else. Failing to see the distinction between truth and belief they see belief can change and decide nothing is true. — Banno
So if it can't be observed it isn't a fact? Are you an empiricist? — Tom Storm
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