FEATURE ARTICLES. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD? PARTS 1-3.

 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW 

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?  PT 1.

As the Controversy Continues over GLOBAL WARMING, THE POLITICS OF THE SUBJECT ARE PUSHING ASIDE WHAT REALLY COUNTS, LEAVING US WITH THE FOLLOWING;

ARE CONCLUSIONS BASED UPON THE PRINCIPLES OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, LOGIC, AND CRITICAL THINKING COMING UNDER ATTACK BY THOSE PUSHING A POLITICAL AGENDA THAT IS ENTIRELY SELF- SERVING, AND CARES NOTHING ABOUT THE REALITY OF THE SITUATION?

This Article is not going to Address the GLOBAL WARMING Controversy Itself, but will look at THE PROCESSES BEING USED TO ARRIVE AT THE DIFFERENT CONCLUSIONS BEING OFFERED TO BEST EXPLAIN THE EVIDENCE RELEVANT TO THE SUBJECT MATTER.  IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FIND THE TRUTH ABOUT ANY NATURAL PHENOMENA, AND WHAT WILL LEAD US TO REAL ANSWERS INSTEAD OF BOGUS ASSERTIONS.

First, a Few Guidelines.

-  If one side spends most of its Time and Energy Attempting to Poke Holes in the Oppositions Theories, Evidence, and Conclusions, and Little on its Own Arguments that Support Their Position, IT MAY BE BECAUSE THEY HAVE LITTLE TO OFFER.

-  Arguing Motivations is a Meaningless Waste of Time.  The SCIENTIFIC METHOD IS NOT A VALUE BASED WAY OF LOOKING AT THE NATURAL WORLD.  LIKE THE RULES OF LOGIC AND CRITICAL THINKING,  THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD ACTS INDEPENDENTLY OF THE REASONS BEHIND THE SEARCH FOR ANSWERS.

-  What is the Source of the Evidence, Testimony, and Opinions being offered? For Example, Are they Taken From Peer Reviewed Material that has been Heavily Examined and Scrutinized for any Procedural Mistakes?

FINALLY, WHAT TYPE OF EVIDENCE WOULD EITHER SIDE CONSIDER IMPORTANT AND CRUCIAL ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD CHANGE THEIR POSITION ON THE SUBJECT?

END PART 1.

FEATURE ARTICLES.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW 

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?  PT 2.

When you Discuss any Type of Theory to explain an Action, Event, or Phenomena, be it a single example or a series, the SCIENTIFIC METHOD demands the Following;

-  DEFINE THE PARAMETERS OF WHAT YOU ARE SEEKING TO ESTABLISH.

-  WHAT METHODS DO YOU PLAN ON USING TO ESTABLISH RESULTS THAT CAN BE PROPERLY STUDIED, EVALUATED, OR REPLICATED IN A LABORATORY SETTING.

-  HOW WAS ANY DATA OR INFORMATION TO BE USED OBTAINED?  WHAT ARE THE SOURCES, AND WHAT WERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE GATHERING OF SUCH MATERIAL?  WHAT ARE THE POSSIBILITIES OF CONTAMINATION THAT WOULD ALTER THE QUALITY OF USEFUL EVIDENCE?

-  IS CERTAIN EVIDENCE, THAT BY ITS NATURE IS OF LOW QUALITY, GIVEN TO MUCH INFLUENCE IN ESTABLISHING THE TRUTH OR VALIDITY OF ANY CONCLUSIONS BEING MADE. (This could include things like ANECDOTAL OR PICTORIAL TESTIMONY.  EVIDENCE LIKE THIS IS OFTEN VERY SUBJECTIVE IN NATURE, AND MAY RELY ON THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE OBSERVER OR WITNESS, WHICH COULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO EVALUATE OR STUDY IN ANY MEANINGFUL WAY.)

-  ARE THERE ANY ASSUMPTIONS OR ASSERTIONS BEING MADE ABOUT DATA BEING USED, THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED AS TRUE?  DO ANY CONCLUSIONS BEING MADE RELY ON MATERIAL THAT ITSELF IS OF DUBIOUS AND UNSUBSTANTIATED  QUALITY?

-  ARE THE CONCLUSIONS MADE AT THE END THE BEST AND MOST PROBABLE WAY OF EXPLAINING THE EVIDENCE?  ARE THERE OTHER, MORE REASONABLE WAYS TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND?

In Part 3, we will look at how these GUIDELINES WERE USED IN THE PAST.

FEATURE ARTICLES.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FOLLOW 

THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?  PT 3.

One of the Greatest Misconceptions about the SCIENTIFIC METHOD, and its History, is that many people believe it has been around for Centuries.

This Erroneous Belief is Commonly Used by Proponents of Bogus Science to Promote Their Ideas, Assumptions, and Conclusions. It is claimed that the Rejection of Their Work, by the Scientific Community and Government Agencies, is Similar to some of the Laws and Mechanisms of Science that we take for granted Today, being Suppressed in the
past.

This is not only Untrue in a historical sense, but it also takes the form of an INVALID ARGUMENT.

-  IN THE PAST, SOME OF THE RULES OF SCIENCE AND THE NATURAL UNIVERSE WE TAKE FOR GRANTED AS BEING TRUE TODAY, WERE PROHIBITED FROM BEING TAUGHT AND DISCUSSED BY THOSE IN A POSITION OF POWER.

-  THROUGH EDUCATION, THE RULES OF LOGIC, AND PROPER METHODOLOGY WE NOW KNOW THE SUPPRESSION OF THESE IDEAS WAS NOT BASED ON PROPER SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

-  THEREFORE, THE REJECTION IN TODAYS WORLD OF CERTAIN IDEAS AND THEORIES IS JUST THE LATEST EXAMPLE OF THE POWERS THAT BE SUPPRESSING SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS THAT DO NOT FIT THEIR VIEW OF THE UNIVERSE.

HOWEVER,

-  EVEN IF IT WAS COMPLETELY TRUE THAT SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS AND NATURAL LAWS WERE SUPPRESSED IN THE PAST,  FOR CONTRADICTING ESTABLISHED BELIEFS THAT WERE HELD BY POWERFUL INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS, IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THAT THOSE REJECTED TODAY ARE THE RESULTS OF THE SAME TYPE OF IRRATIONAL AND SELF- CENTERED MINDSET.

THE MAIN REASON-  THE REJECTION OF SCIENTIFIC TRUTHS AND LAWS THAT WERE PUT IN PLACE IN THE PAST, WAS NOT THE RESULT OF THE MISUSE OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD, BUT OF FACTORS THAT HAD LITTLE TO DO WITH PROPER ANALYSIS, CRITICAL THINKING AND OBEYING THE RULES OF LOGIC. 

IT IS TIME TO MAKE THE JUDICIARY "INTELLECTUALLY RESPONSIBLE" FOR THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE. IF THEY WANT RESPECT, MAKE THEM EARN IT. THE RULES OF LOGIC APPLY TO EVERYONE. PART 3.

 

As a way of a reminder, here are the First 2 Amendments to the "BILL OF RIGHTS."

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

As I pointed out in Part 2, the First Amendment:

- Deals with behaviors, or actions, that must be addressed by the Court System. 

The Goal is to Protect Specific Examples that the American Citizen may engage in from Government Interference, or place limitations on said Behaviors and Actions from becoming Negative Influences on Society in general, or creates an unreasonably hostile environment that impacts on other Citizens.

Further, there are no Qualifications or Examples that must be taken into account before the Courts issue a ruling. The Judicial System was given broad latitude on how to interpret the Scope of the "RIGHTS' contained in the 1st Amendment.

Neither of the above applies to the 2nd Amendment.

- While the First Amendment deals with Actions and Behaviors, the 2nd Amendment refers to the possession of a specific object. 

-  In addition, again unlike the 1st Amendment, the 2nd Amendment GIVES SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS TO GUIDE THE COURT SYSTEM ON HOW TO PROCEED WHEN DEALING WITH ISSUES INVOLVING THE 2ND AMENDMENT.

THE INITIAL WORDING BEGINS WITH : "A WELL REGULATED MILITIA..." Up until very recently, U.S. COURTS HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS OBVIOUS TO THE FRAMERS OF THE CONSTITUTION: THAT HAVING MOBS OF ARMED CITIZENS ROAMING THE COUNTRY, WITHOUT PROPER AUTHORITY, DIRECTION, OR MEMBERSHIP RESTRICTIONS, WAS NOT CONDUCIVE TO A STABLE CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC. THEREFORE, THE "RIGHT" TO "KEEP" AND "BEAR" ARMS WAS TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHOSE TRAINING AND LOYALTY WERE NOT QUESTIONABLE.

The recent SUPREME COURT RULING IS A FARCE. IT IGNORES THE WORDING AND THE MEANING OF THE 2ND AMENDMENT AND ERASES 2 CENTURIES OF JUDICIAL PRECEDENT...

TO BE CONTINUED.

BLAST FROM THE PAST: REMEMBER THIS? A BRIEF EXCHANGE FROM TWITTER.

 

WHAT THEY SAID:  

"There are two sets of rules in America today: one for anyone named Biden, Obama, or Clinton, and then a different set of rules for the rest of us," Rep. Jim Banks says.

WHAT I SAID:

Yes, I agree. The GOP plays by the rules of Fascism: Don't like the election result: Overthrow the government. Get a subpoena: Ignore it. Caught doing something illegal: Blame Law Enforcement. Investigation Incriminates You: Witch Hunt. Wealthy Tax Cheats- IRS is at fault.

IN ADDITION: GET CONVICTED OF A FELONY THROUGH A FAIR TRIAL AND OVERWHELMING EVIDENCE? THROW A TEMPER TANTRUM LIKE A 12 YEAR OLD.

It is the STALIN/HITLER/TRUMP/FASCIST PARTY OF AMERICA CODE OF MORAL AND INTELLECTUAL COWARDICE.

UPDATE: ETHICS AND MORALITY. PERSONAL ETHICS VS INSTITUTIONAL ETHICS, OR FINDING GOD VS FORCING GOD. PT 1. UPDATE: CHRISTIAN FASCISM AND TRUMP THE CONVICTED FELON.

 

Why is it that people with certain Moral Beliefs, automatically feel it is their mission to see that others also adopt this same ETHICAL SYSTEM?

What is even more Disturbing, is their desire to see it instituted into Law, either by Statute or Judicial Decree.  Unfortunately, the Lack of Freedom to Choose never seems to bother them, unless it inhibits their own ability to make Individual Decisions.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION, AS A RIGHT, INCLUDES THE ABILITY TO OBEY OR DISOBEY ANY FORM OF RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE.  IT IS NOT A MATTER OF SELECTING WHICH FORMS OF FAITH CAN BE LEGALIZED, AND ADJUSTING THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO CONFORM. NONE OF THEM ARE TO BE PART OF ANY CODE OF LAW, BECAUSE THE CONCEPT OF 'FREEDOM OF RELIGION' WOULD BE MEANINGLESS. 

A Response to this is could be something like: "The Word of God is Absolute, we must Convert or Convince others that their only hope for Salvation is accepting Scripture, and Submitting to Gods Will."

This type of Response makes the following Assumptions;

-  DEFINING "GOD" IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY AND MUST BE ACCEPTED.

-  That Their DEFINITION OF GOD IS THE CORRECT ONE.

-  THAT FAITH ALONE IS REQUIRED AND NECESSARY.  NO LOGICAL PROOFS OR SCIENTIFIC METHODOLOGY IS NEEDED TO "KNOW THE TRUTH."

-  That GOD HAS REVEALED INSTRUCTIONS FOR A MORAL LIFE, THROUGH INTERPRETATIONS OF SPECIFIC TEXTS, WHICH MUST BE ACCEPTED AS TRUE AND INFALLIBLE.

-  "SALVATION" IS A DESIRABLE GOAL, THAT CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED BY OBEYING THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Now there is nothing UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR ILLEGAL about believing any of the above.  A FREE SOCIETY allows each of us to find answers on our own and being able to share our BELIEFS OR FAITH with others. 

HOWEVER, THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONVERTING OR CONVINCING SOMEONE TO ACT OR BELIEVE CERTAIN RELIGIOUS DEFINITIONS OR ABSOLUTES VOLUNTARILY, AND FORCING THEM TO THROUGH THREATS OF CRIMINAL OR CIVIL SANCTIONS INSTITUTED INTO LAW.

Unfortunately, the U.S. is currently being controlled by a SUPREME COURT that ignores the concept of Voluntary Acceptance of Religious Doctrine. The Constitutional Guarantee that Government will not Force a specific set of Moral principles upon all Americans, based on the Personal Beliefs of Individual Judges/Justices has now been destroyed. This is the  ESTABLISHMENT OF A  FASCIST THEOCRACY* THAT THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WAS DESIGNED TO GUARD AGAINST. However, when acts of TREASON AND SEDITION ARE IGNORED, ALL THE SAFEGUARDS IN THE WORLD ARE BASICALLY USELESS.

*When we speak of CHRISTIAN FASCISM, we are describing a THEOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNMENT that attempts to Legally Enforce a SET OF BELIEFS AND MORAL STANDARDS THAT ELIMINATES THE CONCEPT OF A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION FOR ALL CITIZENS INTO AN OBEDIENCE TO A NARROW AND STRICT CODE OF LAW THAT DOES NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO REPRESENTING ALL BRANCHES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. CURRENTLY, THE ONLY CHRISTIANS IT REPRESENTS ARE THE TRUMPIAN/FASCIST PARTY OF AMERICA/GOP SUPPORTERS WHO USE HATE, PREJUDICE, IGNORANCE, AND AN ANTI-INTELLECTUAL MINDSET SEEKING TO DESTROY THE CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS THAT THE U.S. CITIZEN HAS COME TO KNOW, UNDERSTAND, AND ACCEPT AS PART OF BEING A LOYAL AMERICAN.

This type of  Mindset is further exemplified by those who still support Donald Trump, even after his Felony Convictions. To them, evidence of Criminal Behavior, Prosecution, and a Fair Trial are all just stumbling blocks into establishing a Dictatorship that they believe will force on all Americans a code of Morality based on their confusing and non-sensical form of "Christian" Fascism. (When they can come up with a Valid NEW TESTAMENT Argument to support any of their beliefs I would be glad to re-examine the issue. Don't hold your breath.)

DONALD TRUMP IS A TOOL TO GET WHAT THEY WANT. HATE, PREJUDICE, RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY, AND DESTROYING OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC IS THE GOAL, AND USING A SOCIOPATHIC DEMAGOGUE IS NO PROBLEM AT ALL. THE LAW BE DAMNED.