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Author Topic:   defeasibility
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 1 of 4 (719032)
02-10-2014 2:51 PM


Another take on the question of balance between open-mindedness and skepticism
Page not found | Edge.org
quote:
On its face, defeasibility is a modest concept with roots in logic and epistemology. An inference is defeasible if it can potentially be "defeated" in light of additional information. Unlike deductively sound conclusions, the products of defeasible reasoning remain subject to revision, held tentatively no matter how firmly.
Defeasibility is a powerful concept when we recognize it not as a modest term of art, but as the proper attitude towards all belief. Between blind faith and radical skepticism is a vast but sparsely populated space where defeasibility finds its home. Irreversible commitments would be foolish; boundless doubt paralyzing. Defeasible beliefs provide the provisional certainty necessary to navigate an uncertain world.
Recognizing the potential revisability of our beliefs is a prerequisite to rational discourse and progress, be it in science, politics, religion, or the mundane negotiations of daily life. Consider the world we could live in if all of our local and global leaders, if all of our personal and professional friends and foes, recognized the defeasibility of their beliefs and acted accordingly. That sure sounds like progress to me. But of course, I could be wrong.
How willing are you to change your mind -- not just on science but political and philosophical beliefs?

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


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Replies to this message:
 Message 3 by RAZD, posted 02-10-2014 5:02 PM RAZD has seen this message but not replied

  
AdminNosy
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From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Joined: 11-11-2003


Message 2 of 4 (719034)
02-10-2014 3:56 PM


Thread Copied from Proposed New Topics Forum
Thread copied here from the defeasibility thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1404 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


(1)
Message 3 of 4 (719041)
02-10-2014 5:02 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by RAZD
02-10-2014 2:51 PM


Recognizing the potential revisability of our beliefs is a prerequisite to rational discourse and progress, ...
... one should always be skeptical of ones beliefs and open minded enough to consider other possibilities ... now here's a word to describe it: defeasibility, an approach to knowledge that extends the tentativity of science into philosophy.
Defeaters in Epistemology | Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
quote:
... As a first approximation, defeasibility refers to a belief’s liability to lose some positive epistemic status, or to having this status downgraded in some particular way. For example, a person may be epistemically justified in believing some proposition p at one time, but then the belief might become less justified or even unjustified at some later time. ...
New knowledge should always be able to change beliefs.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
Rebel American Zen Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.


Join the effort to solve medical problems, AIDS/HIV, Cancer and more with Team EvC! (click)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by RAZD, posted 02-10-2014 2:51 PM RAZD has seen this message but not replied

  
bibi123 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3417 days)
Posts: 3
Joined: 11-18-2014


Message 4 of 4 (742211)
11-18-2014 2:46 AM


and acted accordingly. That sure sounds like progress to me. But of course, I could be wrong.
Edited by bibi123, : No reason given.
Edited by Adminnemooseus, : Reset spam signature to blank.

  
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