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Sitting in the cave

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  • 20-12-2014 1:14am
    #1
    cyberwolf77
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 47,820 Mod ✭✭✭✭


    Plato espoused an analogy of people sitting in a cave with their backs to fire in front of which various objects were passed. They were then asked to define the objects based on their shadows. Herein we shall ask the question of what would happen if you had people of different scientific disciplines in a similar situation with words being cast up on a screen before them. What definition would a computer scientist give for "virus", and how would it compare to the definition provided by a biologist? Hopefully we can realize that everyone is perceiving the same things albeit from different angles and help each other find new ways to approach problems and find solutions. Post your questions now. First up is "tree". I define that as a non-motile life form that provides shade on a sunny day. How do you define it?


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    #2
    Black Swan
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,258 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    cyberwolf77 wrote: »
    First up is "tree". I define that as a non-motile life form that provides shade on a sunny day. How do you define it?
    Tree is the individual unit of analysis, while the forest is the population.


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    #3
    cyberwolf77
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 47,820 Mod ✭✭✭✭cyberwolf77


    Got a query for me Swannie?


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    #4
    Black Swan
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,258 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    cyberwolf77 wrote: »
    Got a query for me Swannie?
    The scientific method does not prove, it only suggests. Can you think of one or more disciplines where something is proven?


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    #5
    braddun
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,221 ✭✭✭braddun


    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegory_of_the_Cave


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    #6
    cyberwolf77
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 47,820 Mod ✭✭✭✭cyberwolf77


    Black Swan wrote: »
    The scientific method does not prove, it only suggests. Can you think of one or more disciplines where something is proven?

    Mathematics is the only discipline I can think of where something can be conclusively proven


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    #7
    Black Swan
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 47,258 CMod ✭✭✭✭Black Swan


    cyberwolf77 wrote: »
    Mathematics is the only discipline I can think of where something can be conclusively proven
    Legal proof, and burden of proof in philosophy are two more.


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