09 Apr '05 01:03>
This will give you something to think about.
Suppose someone makes the claim that "All crows are black." If just three or four black crows are seen, that claim is weakly confirmed. But if millions are seen, it strongly confirms it. Now this can easily transfered into the logically equivalant form, "All non-black objects are not crows." But does that mean that seeing a yellow caterpillar, or a purple cow helps prove that "All crows are black?"
I believe so. What do you think?
Suppose someone makes the claim that "All crows are black." If just three or four black crows are seen, that claim is weakly confirmed. But if millions are seen, it strongly confirms it. Now this can easily transfered into the logically equivalant form, "All non-black objects are not crows." But does that mean that seeing a yellow caterpillar, or a purple cow helps prove that "All crows are black?"
I believe so. What do you think?