Finite Evidence and Universal Propositions
There is a lot of empirical evidence supporting the proposition '‘All metals expand when heated’. For example on many, many occasions we have observed metals expanding when heated. Because of this large amount of evidence we take the proposition to be true (or highly likely to be true).
The proposition '‘All metals expand when heated’ is caled a universal proposition. A universal proposition mentions al things of a certain kind. The proposition '‘Al metals expand when heated’ is about al metals, not just some of them; it is about al pieces of metal, not just some pieces. Any piece of metal, any kind of metal, according to this proposition, wil expand when heated. Now as we have said there is a great deal of evidence supporting this universal proposition; it is not a proposition that many would doubt. But however large the body of evidence supporting this proposition, and whatever the variety, this body of evidence is finite. Our experience is finite, even our colective experience. But the proposition is universal: it refers to al metals, not just this bit or that bit, nor this kind or that kind. Any bit of metal at al, whatever kind, wil expand when heated. This is what the proposition says. The proposition does not just say, only those bits of metal that we have observed, expand when heated. Those bits we have observed, they expand when heated; but the proposition also says, even those bits that we have not observed expand when heated. This is what the '‘al’ means; this is why we cal the proposition universal.
The evidence which supports ‘Al metals expand when heated’ is finite. The proposition which draws support from this evidence is universal. How can finite evidence support a universal proposition? A universal proposition, even when supported by evidence, goes wel beyond evidence. There are infinitely many bits of metal. Compared to the many bits of metal in the universe the bits we have observed is only a tiny fraction. How can a tiny fraction support such a large number? When we have no evidence for a proposition we would not take the proposition to be true. When we have only a litle evidence for a proposition we stil would not take it to be true. If we are to take a proposition to be true, or likely to be true, we require a large amount of evidence.
When all the evidence is noted (and there is even more beyond that which is stated here), one can not ignore the overwhelming presence of a
Melnyk’s Hierarchy of Evidence is a system often use for assigning levels of evidence in nursing by integrates clinical expertise and patient choices with the best available research. It is represented by a pyramid that enumerates the levels of strength of the evidence from 1 to 7, of which level 1 is the higher level. The higher level on the pyramid, the more likelihood that the research is valid; therefore, answering a clinical or practice question. “The systematic review or meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials are at the top of the evidence pyramid and are typically assigned the highest level of evidence, due to the fact that the study design reduces the probability of bias” (Melnyk, 2011). The weakness of the system is that when
The article Reasonable Doubt by Alice Camille presents reasons for defending the actions of Thomas, the apostle of Jesus Christ, and relates the factors that not only made Thomas doubt his faith, but the testimonies of the resurrection witnessed by Thomas himself. The article also discusses evidence demanded by Thomas to prove that Jesus had risen from the dead.
...on materialism and social class. While novel is widely considered a zeitgeist of the time period, it is also a warning for the American Dream. Although the Dream is not Marxist materialism, it is certainly not traditional individualism and freedom. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby poses a question: what is the American Dream?
The behavior of every material composite substance is either completely deterministically caused by the nature of the material parts making it up or is partially randomly caused.
“Let us take, for instance, this piece of wax. It has been taken quite recently from the honeycomb; it has not yet lost all the honey flavor. It retains some of the scent of the flowers from which it was collected. Its color, shape, and size are manifest. It is hard and cold; it is easy to touch. If you rap on it with your knuckle it will emit a sound” (Descartes, 21)
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby is set in the 1920s when the Jazz Age was at its peak, and immigrants seeking fast fortune set their eyes to the United States to obtain the American Dream. Fitzgerald’s theme throughout the novel is the idea that the American Dream that many individuals set out to obtain a rags to riches story is a myth. Gatsby and George Wilson are portrayals of those who strive to gain wealth as fast as possible, and will do anything in their power to get what they want. As society framed the American dream as an optimistic form of pursuing your goals, Fitzgerald makes a stubble nod and racial hierarchies that were formed from this idea. Though they represent individuals striving for a better life, their goals and social status within the community are immensely different, and their deaths at the end of the novel symbolize the death and decline of the American dream.
hat for a belief to be true knowledge, it must be supported by evidence. Evidentialism also claims
"Maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy: Don 't do to other nations what we don 't want happening to us. We endlessly bomb these countries and then we wonder why they get upset with us(Ron Paul)?" Most notably, Between the years 1776 and 1865, the United States interactions and relations with other countries poorly evolved. The Monroe Doctrine can be described as the first declaration created by the new nation 's government. The doctrines primary objective was to warn the English that the United States would handle all affairs in the Western Hemisphere, without their influence. Doing so, created tension amongst the American people, as the uncertainty of the country 's future rose throughout the nation. The War of 1812,
evidentiary fact in science, just like all other facts of biology, physics, chemistry, etc. It
Many writers have taken particular interest in the idea of the American dream and have chosen to criticize, fantasize about, define, and even find humor in this indefinable idea that is so close to the heart of all Americans. F. Scott Fitzgerald uses the nebulous American Dream in his famous novel The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald manipulates the notion to express a very materialistic version of the story. His story is centered on one character that essentially reaches this American Dream; however, the means by which he does this do not stay true to the idea’s origins. This tale serves to share the story of a man that loses his own identity as he is overcome by this national ethos.
Fitzgerald uses Gatsby’s dream as a perfect example of the new mislead dream of many Americans in the 1920’s. Gatsby’s dream is centered on materials and their correlation with his happiness. Daisy, Gatsby’s old love becomes his obsession as she becomes and remains the center of Gatsby’s life even after she gets married. Gatsby’s dream was to acquire enough money and possessions so that he can woo Daisy into loving him and leaving Tom Buchanan. In hope of accomplishing his goal of being truly satisfied with his life, Gatsby purchases many expensive things that he doesn’t care for, or use. He also throws many enormous parties for many people although he rarely attends them and has very few actual friends, but as Fitzgerald portrays as the book progresses “morality and ethics have nothing to do with the qualities of ones parties” (Mellard857). Gatsby became infatuated with Daisy’s voice and described it as “full of money”; this revea...
which is actually hot, like fire, makes something which is potentially hot, like wood, to
...ted. There are many countries that frown upon standing out to the extent of the Americans. In some Middle Eastern cultures, women are required to cover their bodies from head to toe. They dress in dark clothing so that little attention is drawn to them, if any at all. Differing from the Middle Eastern culture, American people often dress to the extreme; showing them off as if the world is always watching them. Although one covers their body with a black hijab and another prances around in a rainbow dress, the one covered is not any less of an individual as the one standing out physically.
It would be stating that the universal truth is there are no universal truths universally, which is a universal truth and no doubt contradicting.