Corpus-Paul

["David C. Hindley" <dhindley AT compuserve.com>]

Bob MacDonald stated:

>>Does Occam's razor apply to the kind of historical analysis that so
many are trying to do in the reconstruction of the acts of 'this
generation'?  I am beginning to doubt it.<<

Evidently, this is a quite complex issue.

Recently I had read _Induction and Hypothesis: A Study of the Logic of
Confirmation_ (S. F. Barker, Cornel U.P., 1957) and the issues
revolving around a criterion of confirmation employing the notion of
simplicity receives specific attention in Chapter IX (pp. 165-191).

Unfortunately, theoretical logic drives me nuts so I have yet to fully
decipher how the implications of theoretical issues can be applied to
historical investigations. Check it out. Maybe you will find it an
easier task than I have (and be willing to share your conclusions with
the rest of us)!

Regards,

Dave Hindley
Cleveland, Ohio, USA