Does everything happen for a reason?
- Thread starter Tstove15
- Start date
knifegill;4309195; said:
how about an example. Don't say something silly like people once believed the earth was flat
Not related.
What I mean is, no matter how much something may seem to be caused by something, science can never 100% rule out a third variable. Let's say you start adding acetone to your gas tank and your mileage improves drastically. Common sense tells you that the acetone is effective. However, you can never rule out beyond doubt unknown factors like wind sheer, accidental lubrication of your axles, the gas company changing their formula the same day or whatever else might be creating the effect.
Clearly this is splitting hairs. But isn't that what this discussion is anyway?
Though u are right knifegill. If you can test someone elses theory with the same variables and tolerances and get the same results the theory is sound. Without this proof than everything we know about is flawed. As a rule, if it can be tested time and again and the results are a constant than it is a scientifically proven fact. Remember you can't publish results unless you have eliminated all other variables.
How about a hunting example, we got a new hunting spot last year, and had some pretty good success, took down about 6 deer.
It was our first year there, now does this prove that our spot will be a good spot for hunting this year?
It could, but it could also be the weather that day, the route other hunters took to get where they were going, and what time they did it at, food sources affected in other areas, lack of baiting, or many other things.
It was our first year there, now does this prove that our spot will be a good spot for hunting this year?
It could, but it could also be the weather that day, the route other hunters took to get where they were going, and what time they did it at, food sources affected in other areas, lack of baiting, or many other things.
Thirty years ago, aged water was a must. Every good fishkeeper had the yellowest, most saturated water imaginable because fish did best in it. It was observed, and proven, time and time again that fish kept in aged water were far more likely to live longer and even breed. That clean water was a sure killer of fish was not doubted. And it worked. The theory seemed to become fact as more and more people had success with this method. It was rather obvious that aged water = healthy fish.
The third variable can never be ruled out. Solar radiation penetrates almost every molecule. You can never know if what you think is happening really is what's happening.
Take something as simple as knocking over a domino with your finger. You cannot prove that the domino wouldn't have fallen over at that exact moment with or without your finger. For all you know there was a piece of metal embedded in the top of the domino and a massive super magnet was activated a block away at the same moment your finger touched the domino. Repetition proves nothing.
I hate it when people talk like this, it just makes us all look like victims of our own minds (which we are NOT, imo) and really doesn't accomplish anything.
No, I don't believe that everything happens for a reason, though I do believe that some, maybe even most things happen for a reason (to say that nothing happens for a reason would just be ignorant).
Knifegill we are just thinking of 2 separate types of examples. And u sir are right in regards to everyday science. There are many variables we cannot predict. Im referring to actual scientific evidence. I'm a biochem major.....it's all we do. Lol
And drgnfrc we are victims of our own mind in a sense. We as humans are wired a certain way. Just like a mechanical devise that is built to opporate in a certain way, we can not change it because we wish it to. We are wired to solve problems, this is one of the evolutionary traits that separated us from great apes.
And drgnfrc we are victims of our own mind in a sense. We as humans are wired a certain way. Just like a mechanical devise that is built to opporate in a certain way, we can not change it because we wish it to. We are wired to solve problems, this is one of the evolutionary traits that separated us from great apes.
