epistemology, science, kinds of knowledge, methodology
The arrow of time is a concept developed by Arthur Eddington in 1927. It is an arrow that points from the past through the present into the future. One problem with this concept is that multiple futures are possible; it would have to be a many-headed arrow. Another problem is that it could just as well be pointing from the […]
Several dualities of space and time are known, but there are thought to be exceptions for the dimensions of space and the arrow of time. It turns out these are not exceptions; space and time are fully dual. To understand this first note that movement is required for the measurement of time and space, and then compare the various meanings of
Over the centuries the various sciences have developed from a focus on history to a focus on nature, that is from a temporal or diachronic focus to a spatial or synchronic one. Saussure saw this in linguistics and reoriented it from a focus on historical language change to language as a system. Both have their
It is remarkable how the Apostles denied that Gentiles needed to follow the law of Moses, and put only a few restrictions on Gentile believers (Acts 15:28-29): 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29 that you abstain from things offered
The word “secular” can mean simply non-religious but really means more than that; according to the Online Etymological Dictionary, secular means “worldly, pertaining to a generation or age,” from Latin saecularis “of an age, occurring once in an age,” from saeculum “age, span of time, generation.” The basic distinction is between matters that pertain to the age and world in
Evolutionists argue that, in general, homologous (similar) structures or genes are evidence of common (joint) ancestry between the species. They also argue that vestigial (useless) features show common ancestry between the species and a similar species in which they are functional. Critics of evolution can equally well argue that, in general, heterologous (dissimilar) structures or genes are evidence
Knowledge is conditional. Knowledge starts with an antecedent, which is assumed, and proceeds from there. Its consequences are therefore certain, but relative to the antecedent. “If P, then Q” is the form of knowledge. Belief is unconditional. Belief is a beginning; it does not begin from something else. “In the beginning God…” is the form of belief. Belief
Two propositions are contrary if they cannot both be simultaneously true but it is possible for both to be simultaneously false. For example, the proposition that “every man is just” is contrary to the proposition that “no man is just,” since both propositions may be false if some men are just. Two propositions are contradictory if both cannot
The first edition of Charles Darwin’s The Origin of Species published in 1859 did not contain the word evolution (though evolved was the last word). By the sixth edition the word evolution was used 15 times, yet it was not defined. Nor did he specify what he called “the great principle of evolution”. Alas, it is much the same today.
Joshua’s long day has a long history of debate but is often forgotten today. The book of Joshua 10:13 says: So the sun stood still, And the moon stopped, Till the people had revenge Upon their enemies. It is often said that this contradicts heliocentric astronomy. Actually, it contradicts geocentric astronomy, too: the sun and moon
