Gut reactions: [quote]Julie is traveling in France on summer vacation from college with her brother Mark. One night they decide that it would be interesting and fun if they tried making love. Julie was already taking birth-control pills, but Mark uses a condom, too, just to be safe. They both enjoy ...

Fun question to think about . . . 1. Of course, one of mine has to be medical. I have a sort of vague notion on this one and it really could count as many questions. I think we need to learn more about how to get people to actually live healthier lifestyles. We have all kinds of meds and interventio...

Quote:Well, for one thing, I'd look for ways to increase the public's outlets for discussing and considering science. Most people get their scientific knowledge from 10 second sound bytes on CNN. Interesting observation, and I think it's mostly true. Why do you suppose that's all the exposure they g...

Science, the way you describe it, is not just a method. I have a hard time knowing just where your description ends. I guess it includes the people, institutions, publications, media and public interpretations and more.So, now my question is, how do you define the scientific method, given the follow...

Mad, please define the term "science" as you use it. When I use it, I usually mean something like "that which we have learned from the scientific method." Edited by: medmo at: 9/1/07 12:56 am

(This message was left blank) Edited by: medmo at: 8/29/07 10:29 pm

Quote:I'm not so sure about that one, with all due respect to W. James. I'm sure most of us believe certain things, but would be hesitant to act upon them if the opportunity arose.I agree, but I think it's a useful pragmatic attempt at a brief definition. That's why I tried to explain that there's a...

Quote:So in a very practical way, my question is about what makes the difference between belief and disbelief, and whatever you'd call the response to science.So let's start with that: What is your response to any given scientific theory? Why isn't it belief? Do you support Darwinian evolutionary th...

Quote:Once you've tackled those questions, try your hand at the big one: What is belief? As I have been thinking through this, here's my initial, brief impression. I await the true philosophers to straighten me out.I frequently consider William James definition of belief to be useful, which is somet...

Hello all. Very good to find this site. I hope you can forgive me using a screen name. Medmo is much easier than trying to add something to my real name, Matt.I'm a physician in Alabama, which puts me in a particular type of company most of the time. I think physicians tend to be intelligent but mod...