From: Samantha Atkins (samantha@objectent.com)
Date: Sat Jan 11 2003 - 02:40:42 MST
Lee Corbin wrote:
> Brett Paatsch claims that the two extended statements
>
> A. "I believe that life begins at conception. I believe
> that any other points we might choose are essentially
> arbitrary and uncertain. And I believe that this is
> a view founded not in religion, not in faith, but on
> the logic of the matter.
>
> B. "My working hypothesis is that human existence begins
> at conception, and I contend that this is a view founded
> not in religion, not in faith, but on logic."
>
> are not equivalent. I claim that they *are* equivalent.
>
> Who is correct?
>
I don't see them as precisely equivalent. The use of "working
hypotesis" in the place of "belief" at least implies that the
speaker is open to that working hypothesis being incorrect, that
they are critically evaluating it. Using "belief" on the other
hand may or may not leave room for such critical consideration.
It might be blind or absolute belief held to be beyond
questioning.
- samantha
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