DanArmak comments on A Parable On Obsolete Ideologies - Less Wrong

113 Post author: Yvain 13 May 2009 10:51PM

You are viewing a comment permalink. View the original post to see all comments and the full post content.

Comments (272)

You are viewing a single comment's thread. Show more comments above.

Comment author: Tsujigiri 18 December 2011 02:26:29PM 2 points [-]

No, just as there is no evidence for Russel's teapot.

As the word evidence is commonly used, there is evidence for Russell's teapot -- just not evidence that you or me believe in. If someone says "Russell's teapot exists! I've seen it!", that is anecdotal evidence for its existence. Anything that suggests something is true or false is evidence, no matter how flawed that evidence may be.

It is by considering all the evidence, for and against our beliefs, that we progress towards truth.

Comment author: DanArmak 18 December 2011 07:55:12PM 2 points [-]

If someone says "Russell's teapot exists! I've seen it!", that is anecdotal evidence for its existence.

But nobody is saying that... er, right?