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In article , greywolf42
writes: The probability of a hypothetical event (the Big Bang) can never be greater than the probability of the most likely theory that supports the existence of that event. See my discussion of the class of theories called 'Big Bang.' I'm Sherlock Holmes. I discover a body on the way home. He's dead, Jim. After some discussion with the police, local residents etc, Watson explains several possible theories about the man's death. Some of them seem more probable than others. In any case, the probability that the man is dead (1) is higher than the probability that even the most likely theory of his demise is true. Also, if I rule out one of these theories, even the most likely one, through brilliant deduction, he's still dead. Even if I rule them all out. It is quite common in science for a phenomenon to be observed before the underlying mechanism is understood: Mendel's hereditary experiments, continental drift, radioactivity. Initially, some wrong explanations were advanced for these. Nevertheless, these phenomena were always MORE certain than the best theory of the time. You have it completely backwards. The universe is independent of our discussions. If I say that my new theory is the big-bang theory plus the Moon being made of green cheese, refuting the latter says nothing about the former, unless I somehow show that the former must DEPEND on the latter. I strongly recommend that you read the book by Peter Coles and George Ellis in order to understand why 0.2 or 0.3, in this context, is not "significantly different" than 1. |
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Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply
wrote in message ... In article , greywolf42 writes: The probability of a hypothetical event (the Big Bang) can never be greater than the probability of the most likely theory that supports the existence of that event. See my discussion of the class of theories called 'Big Bang.' I'm Sherlock Holmes. I discover a body on the way home. He's dead, Jim. You're confusing Spock with Holmes with Data. ![]() After some discussion with the police, local residents etc, Watson explains several possible theories about the man's death. Some of them seem more probable than others. In any case, the probability that the man is dead (1) is higher than the probability that even the most likely theory of his demise is true. Also, if I rule out one of these theories, even the most likely one, through brilliant deduction, he's still dead. Even if I rule them all out. Elementary, Watson! Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. It is quite common in science for a phenomenon to be observed before the underlying mechanism is understood: Mendel's hereditary experiments, continental drift, radioactivity. Initially, some wrong explanations were advanced for these. Nevertheless, these phenomena were always MORE certain than the best theory of the time. You have it completely backwards. You are confusing observation with theory. No one observed the 'big bang.' The 'phenomena' that we can observe are the EM radiation that we observe in our various telescopes. From this, we can theorize the existence of many parts of our current universe (based partly on how long it takes the light to travel). However, the origin of the current situation will always remain theory. Not observation or 'phenomenon.' The universe is independent of our discussions. If I say that my new theory is the big-bang theory plus the Moon being made of green cheese, refuting the latter says nothing about the former, unless I somehow show that the former must DEPEND on the latter. This is a correct statement. But how does it advance your argument? I strongly recommend that you read the book by Peter Coles and George Ellis in order to understand why 0.2 or 0.3, in this context, is not "significantly different" than 1. Could you be more specific? Like provide the title (which I can look up) and the page numbers to which you refer (which I can't? Thanks. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply
wrote in message ... In article , greywolf42 writes: The probability of a hypothetical event (the Big Bang) can never be greater than the probability of the most likely theory that supports the existence of that event. See my discussion of the class of theories called 'Big Bang.' I'm Sherlock Holmes. I discover a body on the way home. He's dead, Jim. You're confusing Spock with Holmes with Data. ![]() After some discussion with the police, local residents etc, Watson explains several possible theories about the man's death. Some of them seem more probable than others. In any case, the probability that the man is dead (1) is higher than the probability that even the most likely theory of his demise is true. Also, if I rule out one of these theories, even the most likely one, through brilliant deduction, he's still dead. Even if I rule them all out. Elementary, Watson! Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. It is quite common in science for a phenomenon to be observed before the underlying mechanism is understood: Mendel's hereditary experiments, continental drift, radioactivity. Initially, some wrong explanations were advanced for these. Nevertheless, these phenomena were always MORE certain than the best theory of the time. You have it completely backwards. You are confusing observation with theory. No one observed the 'big bang.' The 'phenomena' that we can observe are the EM radiation that we observe in our various telescopes. From this, we can theorize the existence of many parts of our current universe (based partly on how long it takes the light to travel). However, the origin of the current situation will always remain theory. Not observation or 'phenomenon.' The universe is independent of our discussions. If I say that my new theory is the big-bang theory plus the Moon being made of green cheese, refuting the latter says nothing about the former, unless I somehow show that the former must DEPEND on the latter. This is a correct statement. But how does it advance your argument? I strongly recommend that you read the book by Peter Coles and George Ellis in order to understand why 0.2 or 0.3, in this context, is not "significantly different" than 1. Could you be more specific? Like provide the title (which I can look up) and the page numbers to which you refer (which I can't? Thanks. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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Morgoth wrote in message
... On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:00:26 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Elementary, Watson! Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. Do you tell that to all the historians and archaeologists that you meet? I certainly would in the above described situation (which you snipped). In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. Supported by literally humungous amounts of evidence, old chap. However, it is still only a theory. As I wrote in the prior post (and you snipped): "In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory." For example, the observed abundances of light elements, the CRB and so and so on. Those two examples are not predictions of the Big Bang. The Big Bang was reinvented with new ad hoc assumptions in order to meet those observations. And so and so on. I could have said the same for the Ptolemaic system. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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Morgoth wrote in message
... On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:00:26 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Elementary, Watson! Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. Do you tell that to all the historians and archaeologists that you meet? I certainly would in the above described situation (which you snipped). In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. Supported by literally humungous amounts of evidence, old chap. However, it is still only a theory. As I wrote in the prior post (and you snipped): "In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory." For example, the observed abundances of light elements, the CRB and so and so on. Those two examples are not predictions of the Big Bang. The Big Bang was reinvented with new ad hoc assumptions in order to meet those observations. And so and so on. I could have said the same for the Ptolemaic system. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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On Fri, 5 Sep 2003 11:49:39 GMT, greywolf42
inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Morgoth wrote in message ... On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:00:26 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Elementary, Watson! Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. Do you tell that to all the historians and archaeologists that you meet? I certainly would in the above described situation (which you snipped). Yet you are claiming that there is a fundamental difference between human-observed data/events and non-human-observed data/events. Whither there is anyone in the forest or not, the tree still falls! In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. Supported by literally humungous amounts of evidence, old chap. However, it is still only a theory. So is gravity. So is heliocentralism. So even is general relativity. As I wrote in the prior post (and you snipped): "In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory." But what is your problem? It is not a theory because no one present witnessed it. The Fall of Rome is not a theory, but no one alive has witnessed it. For example, the observed abundances of light elements, the CRB and so and so on. Those two examples are not predictions of the Big Bang. The Big Bang was reinvented with new ad hoc assumptions in order to meet those observations. Not so. They are explained by the Big Bang. And so and so on. But if you wish to come up with an alternative for the big-bang you must account for the above, and none of the alternatives can do so. Best, Dave I could have said the same for the Ptolemaic system. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas Author of the Supernovae and Supernova Remnants FAQ http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/supernova/ Visions of Light, Visions of Darkness - B&W Photography of Wessex http://www.valinor.freeserve.co.uk/visions.html |
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On Fri, 5 Sep 2003 11:49:39 GMT, greywolf42
inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Morgoth wrote in message ... On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:00:26 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Elementary, Watson! Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. Do you tell that to all the historians and archaeologists that you meet? I certainly would in the above described situation (which you snipped). Yet you are claiming that there is a fundamental difference between human-observed data/events and non-human-observed data/events. Whither there is anyone in the forest or not, the tree still falls! In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. Supported by literally humungous amounts of evidence, old chap. However, it is still only a theory. So is gravity. So is heliocentralism. So even is general relativity. As I wrote in the prior post (and you snipped): "In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory." But what is your problem? It is not a theory because no one present witnessed it. The Fall of Rome is not a theory, but no one alive has witnessed it. For example, the observed abundances of light elements, the CRB and so and so on. Those two examples are not predictions of the Big Bang. The Big Bang was reinvented with new ad hoc assumptions in order to meet those observations. Not so. They are explained by the Big Bang. And so and so on. But if you wish to come up with an alternative for the big-bang you must account for the above, and none of the alternatives can do so. Best, Dave I could have said the same for the Ptolemaic system. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas Author of the Supernovae and Supernova Remnants FAQ http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/supernova/ Visions of Light, Visions of Darkness - B&W Photography of Wessex http://www.valinor.freeserve.co.uk/visions.html |
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Morgoth wrote in message
... On Fri, 5 Sep 2003 11:49:39 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: That's a very strange addition you seem to be compelled to make. Morgoth wrote in message ... On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:00:26 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. Do you tell that to all the historians and archaeologists that you meet? I certainly would in the above described situation (which you snipped). Yet you are claiming that there is a fundamental difference between human-observed data/events and non-human-observed data/events. That is not at all my claim. I discriminate between observations of a current physical state, and theories of prior causation. Whither there is anyone in the forest or not, the tree still falls! Yes. But since if we find a downed tree (later), we cannot know what caused the fall. Identifying causation after the event is theorizing -- not observing. In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. Supported by literally humungous amounts of evidence, old chap. However, it is still only a theory. So is gravity. So is heliocentralism. So even is general relativity. Yes. It is still not the 'observation' claimed by the original poster. But what is your problem? It is not a theory because no one present witnessed it. The Fall of Rome is not a theory, but no one alive has witnessed it. In the former case, there were no observers whatsoever (or if there were, they haven't contacted us). In the latter case, there were observers -- and they left us written records. Therefore, the former is only a theory and the latter is a 'historical event.' If there were observers, but we have no validated records, then our 'historical event' is demoted into 'legend', 'tradition' or even to 'myth' (if we no longer really believe the reported accounts of the observers). For example, the observed abundances of light elements, the CRB and so and so on. Those two examples are not predictions of the Big Bang. The Big Bang was reinvented with new ad hoc assumptions in order to meet those observations. Not so. They are explained by the Big Bang. They are 'explained' by the current model of the big bang. However, the 'big bang' is really a set of different theories that include one basic event: the expansion of the 'cosmic egg.' (Lemaitre, I believe.) "Red shift" was the foundation of the original theory termed 'big bang'. This was renovated by adjusting contants to match observed light elements (big bang, version 2.0). This was later upgraded to BB 3.0: CMBR. There is nothing 'wrong' with ad hoc adjustments of a theory. But such 'observations' are not substantive support for a theory -- as they've been put in 'by hand' to match the observations, after the fact. For this reason, prediction is preferred to ad hoc adjustment. And so and so on. But if you wish to come up with an alternative for the big-bang you must account for the above, and none of the alternatives can do so. Yes, valid theories -- or combinations thereof -- need to address all valid observations. Hence Watson (above) may have had many theories. And it might be that not one of Watson's theories contained the actual cause-of-death. I could have said the same for the Ptolemaic system. I see you made no comment. Did you note the similarity in your approach and Ptolemy's approach? greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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Morgoth wrote in message
... On Fri, 5 Sep 2003 11:49:39 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: That's a very strange addition you seem to be compelled to make. Morgoth wrote in message ... On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 16:00:26 GMT, greywolf42 inscribed in blood upon a parchment: Only one problem with your allegory. The body is not a hypothetical event that took place in the past. It is a very local, current, direct observation. It is data, not the 'event.' The 'event' is the past *cause* of the dead body that we see in the present. No one (present) witnessed the event. Hence, we must theorize. Do you tell that to all the historians and archaeologists that you meet? I certainly would in the above described situation (which you snipped). Yet you are claiming that there is a fundamental difference between human-observed data/events and non-human-observed data/events. That is not at all my claim. I discriminate between observations of a current physical state, and theories of prior causation. Whither there is anyone in the forest or not, the tree still falls! Yes. But since if we find a downed tree (later), we cannot know what caused the fall. Identifying causation after the event is theorizing -- not observing. In the case of the hypothetical 'big bang', the 'event' is the initial expansion of the 'cosmic egg'. The 'body' is the universe as we see it. No one present witnessed the event. Hence we must theorize. The 'big bang' is one such theory. Supported by literally humungous amounts of evidence, old chap. However, it is still only a theory. So is gravity. So is heliocentralism. So even is general relativity. Yes. It is still not the 'observation' claimed by the original poster. But what is your problem? It is not a theory because no one present witnessed it. The Fall of Rome is not a theory, but no one alive has witnessed it. In the former case, there were no observers whatsoever (or if there were, they haven't contacted us). In the latter case, there were observers -- and they left us written records. Therefore, the former is only a theory and the latter is a 'historical event.' If there were observers, but we have no validated records, then our 'historical event' is demoted into 'legend', 'tradition' or even to 'myth' (if we no longer really believe the reported accounts of the observers). For example, the observed abundances of light elements, the CRB and so and so on. Those two examples are not predictions of the Big Bang. The Big Bang was reinvented with new ad hoc assumptions in order to meet those observations. Not so. They are explained by the Big Bang. They are 'explained' by the current model of the big bang. However, the 'big bang' is really a set of different theories that include one basic event: the expansion of the 'cosmic egg.' (Lemaitre, I believe.) "Red shift" was the foundation of the original theory termed 'big bang'. This was renovated by adjusting contants to match observed light elements (big bang, version 2.0). This was later upgraded to BB 3.0: CMBR. There is nothing 'wrong' with ad hoc adjustments of a theory. But such 'observations' are not substantive support for a theory -- as they've been put in 'by hand' to match the observations, after the fact. For this reason, prediction is preferred to ad hoc adjustment. And so and so on. But if you wish to come up with an alternative for the big-bang you must account for the above, and none of the alternatives can do so. Yes, valid theories -- or combinations thereof -- need to address all valid observations. Hence Watson (above) may have had many theories. And it might be that not one of Watson's theories contained the actual cause-of-death. I could have said the same for the Ptolemaic system. I see you made no comment. Did you note the similarity in your approach and Ptolemy's approach? greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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Phillip Helbig---remove CLOTHES to reply
wrote in message ... In article , greywolf42 writes: They are 'explained' by the current model of the big bang. However, the 'big bang' is really a set of different theories that include one basic event: the expansion of the 'cosmic egg.' (Lemaitre, I believe.) "Red shift" was the foundation of the original theory termed 'big bang'. There is some serious confusion here. Yes, Lemaitre was the first to extensively discuss the "cosmic egg". The redshift was predicted somewhat earlier by de Sitter and for a time the cosmological red**** was known as the "de Sitter effect". There is no confusion at all. We agree that the big bang is essentially the theory that the universe expanded from a hotter, denser state---the cosmic egg, if you like. That is the commonality between the various theories that are often lumped together as the 'big bang.' This was renovated by adjusting contants to match observed light elements (big bang, version 2.0). This was later upgraded to BB 3.0: CMBR. There is nothing 'wrong' with ad hoc adjustments of a theory. But such 'observations' are not substantive support for a theory -- as they've been put in 'by hand' to match the observations, after the fact. For this reason, prediction is preferred to ad hoc adjustment. You have it backwards. The CMBR was PREDICTED (by Gamow in 1948 or so) long before it was observed (Penzias and Wilson, 1965 or so). Flatly untrue, though commonly believed. This is one of the myths of science. See the thread "Gamow's CMBR 'prediction' claims finally put to rest?" on the following thread: http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...0nntp2.onemain. com Similarly, predictions of the relative abundances of light elements were on the record before these were observed. Your statement contradicts the texts I've seen. Please identify the specific reference(s) that first predicted the abundances of the light elements. It did NOT happen that some arbitrary values were observed and then the big-bang theory made to fit them, as if it could be made to fit any values. (Gamow also did some work on element synthesis.) Your claim is unsupported, and -- I believe -- incorrect. I await substantiation of the 'light element' claim. greywolf42 ubi dubium ibi libertas |
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