-=> Quoting Jack Sargeant to Heiko Diekmann <=-
 HD> So this is what I think to be a skeptic. Can we agree on that?
 JS> Sure, and the reason Galileo was harangued by the Church was
 JS> because they were died-in-the-wool, head-in-the-sand skeptics,
 JS> pure and simple.
   If I understand you, you're saying you agree with Heiko's outline,
but still think that Galileo's persecutors were skeptics.
   Let's take the points one at a time.
 
 HD> A skeptic in my view is a person who is convinced that it is
 HD> possible to gain knowledge about the world we live in by rational
 HD> means.
   Galileo's persecutors believed that the Bible was the best source
of knowledge about the world. They rejected the knowledge that Galileo
had gained by rational means.
 HD> He is convinced that the best way to gain knowledge is by
 HD> application of methods of natural science, as far as these means
 HD> can be applied on the discussed topic.
   Galileo's persecutor's accepted that knowledge could be gained by
the methods of natural science - but *only* if the knowledge so gained
did not contradict the world view they already held.
 HD> If theories can be proven to be false, he should accept the new
 HD> knowledge and no longer use the old theories (even if it hurts).
   I don't think this needs commenting on. Did you somehow not notice
this sentence?
 HD> But before that, the new theories or facts which contradict the
 HD> old knowledge have to be verified and very well researched,
 HD> because experience shows that by far most of the "new theories"
 HD> flopped.
   No verification. No research. Just automatic rejection.
 HD> Aspects of the world that cannot be researched or questioned by
 HD> rational means are no topic of a skeptical discussion. So far,
 HD> skepticism is no method for topics like religion or philosophy.
   Galileo's persecutors put religion before rational thinking and
evidence. Skeptics?
 HD> But if there are facts to be claimed in such religious
 HD> discussions that contradict scientific knowledge or evidence,
 HD> this will be a topic of skepicism again.
   Watch out, the next bit's important.
 HD> The skeptic will prefer to stick to the facts rather than to
 HD> belief.
   An attitude somewhat lacking in the people who did Galileo down.
   Summary:
   The Church As Narrow-Minded Theocrats: six.
                  The Church As Skeptics: nil.
   Your move.
Paul
... To err is Human; To moo, Bovine.  
--- Blue Wave/Max v2.30 [NR]
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