Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

b-hebrew - Re: Argumentum e silentio

b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Biblical Hebrew Forum

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Dave Washburn" <dwashbur AT nyx.net>
  • To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Argumentum e silentio
  • Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 06:33:22 -0700


Since there is no substance to this post of Raymond's but only a
feeble attempt at reductio ad absurdum, I have nothing more to say
on this subject. It's clear we're getting nowhere, and I have other
things to do.


> >> You're fond of arguments from silence, aren't you? There's more to
> >> the Deborah story than the song, in case you didn't know. If all
> >> you can come up with are arguments from silence, then perhaps
> >> you need to learn the expression "absence of evidence is not
> >> evidence of absence." Considering the social/governmental
> >> position that we are told Deborah was in, it's reasonable to
> >> conclude that there were at least some instances when she had to
> >> write. But apparently, arguments from silence are the best you
> >> can muster, so I see no reason to continue this conversation.
> >>
>
> Dave,
> I'm glad you've analysed my postings and my scholarly work so carefully,
> that you're able to give the judgment that I'm fond of "arguments from
> silence".
>
> But apparently you do not know that bringing in the "argument from
> silence"-argument is an argument from silence itself: It cannot be proven
> that it did not exist, so it could have existed. That is the argument that
> you are bringing in, and it's from silence itself.
>
> But well, who knows, you may be correct with regard to Deborah. In your view
> her social/governmental position justifies the conclusion that she had to
> write occasionaly. Why do you not argue that she did not write with hand but
> did it by computer and faxed her correspondence?
> Computers did not exist? Argument from silence!
>
> After her work she went home by car.
> Cars did not exist? Argument from silence!
>
> She came home where her husband cooked the meal in the microwave oven.
> A microwave oven did not exist? Argument from silence! :-)
>
> For other (and certaiunly more substantive) arguments I refer to the
> postings by Liz, Ian and David.
>
> Regards,
>
> Raymond.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ---
> You are currently subscribed to b-hebrew as: [dwashbur AT nyx.net]
> To unsubscribe, forward this message to $subst('Email.Unsub')
> To subscribe, send an email to join-b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu.
>


Dave Washburn
http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
"No study of probabilities inside a given frame can ever
tell us how probable it is that the frame itself can be
violated." C. S. Lewis




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page