Friday, April 3, 2020

The Gumball Analogy

Matt Dillahunty is known for using the gumball analogy to help people understand science-based thinking, the burden of proof, and certainty:

"Let’s say you have a jar of gumballs (or anything). Without counting, no one’s going to know whether the number of gumballs in the jar is even or odd. If someone (without counting) insists that the number is odd, it’s perfectly reasonable to say that you don’t believe him, even if you haven’t counted them either. And, perhaps more importantly, the fact that you’re saying you don’t believe him does not mean that you are stating that there must, therefore, be an even number. 
"In the same way, stating that I don’t believe your god claims does not necessarily mean I am stating with certainty that there is no god. I don’t know anything 'for certain'. And neither do you."
I would add that actually counting the number of gumballs, and others verifying the count, to determine the correct answer, is using the scientific method.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Labels

Choose how you look at reality wisely. Yes, it is a binary choice.

Choose how you look at reality wisely. Yes, it is a binary choice.
Click on image

SCIENCE JUSTIFIES ITSELF

SCIENCE JUSTIFIES ITSELF
Click on image