Does science play dice?

[kmarinas86]

I have a question, does science play dice and choose a particular base assumption because its more "likely"? We could argue whether a dice's center of mass is really in the center, but how do we know that we choose the ultimately correct assumption automatically if don't know the nature of the dice?

 

[vogon13]

Porbably not what you had in mind, but Monte Carlo simulations can be quite productive.<br /><br />I used one once at the defense contractor I worked for to look at job flows through a maintenance facility.<br /><br />The facility jammed up every time . . . . <br /><br /><br /><img src="/images/icons/frown.gif" /><br /><br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[newtonian]

kmarinas86 - HI!<br /><br />Science (definition?) often chooses the most popular, hence standard, model assumptions.<br /><br />At this time it is popular to leave God and intelligent design models out and choose chance models.<br /><br />In the case of archaeologists assuming an arrowhead was produced by intelligent design - these scientists' assumptions are based on what is more likely, more mathematically probable.<br /><br />However, in the case of life, and various specific complex informational systems peculiar to life, many scientists choose the less likely, less mathematically probable chance formation rather than by intelligent design.<br /><br />The dice clearly are not weighted the same in the two 'games.' In the latter case the dices are weighted against intelligent design in favor of the much less probable chance models.<br /><br />This is actually a bias - and interestingly it does not explain another bias, i.e. the bias for L-amino acids instead of D-amino acids in origin of life scenarios.<br /><br />For those of us who believe in God, scientific inquiry and discovery take on added meaning and incentive.<br /><br />Instead of merely a search for truth, itself a strong scientific incentive, we add a search for how our Creator, who loves us, created this universe, fine tuned its laws and properties, and created life.<br /><br />In other words, we have roughly doubled reasons for analytical and in depth research and search for scientific truths and discoveries.<br /><br />In both cases, this is an exciting time for astronomy as new data and new discoveries pour in, and we fine tune our understanding of how all of these things czme to be!

 

[qso1]

I think thats probably true to some degree, especially where trying to determine if the Universe happened by chance or design. Some scientists let their personal beliefs get in the way regardless of where they stand.<br /><br />Science is only as good as the scientists. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[newtonian]

qso1 - Agreed. Of course, if the belief is correct, wild goose chases will be avoided and time saved.<br /><br />If the belief is wrong, however.......<br /><br />In short, thinking outside the box is actually healthy for scientific advancement - and also for the advancement of science fiction if the pursued avenue of research is partly fiction.<br /><br />Good Sci Fi involves some science fact and some science possible fact (e.g.: wormholes).<br /><br />What we need to do is be humble and realize some theories are not proven fact. Many astronomers are humble.<br /><br />A sense of humor helps too!<br /><br />Like, for an example, as an organic garderner I can prove the existence of wormholes!

 

[qso1]

Excellent points and in fact, its been my experience that the vast majority of scientists are humble. This can be seen in the articles they write. I've seen examples where an article may be written on evolution and properly refer to evolution as theory but people who are of strong religious persuesion will say the article or evolution in general is proposed as though factual. To be sure, some evolutionists will flat out state evolution is fact.<br /><br />I see it as theory as long as we cannot actually observe the process as it happens. A theory that is well founded however, IMO.<br /><br />I think I'm in need of a sense of humor. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[derekmcd]

<i>I think I'm in need of a sense of humor.</i><br /><br />So my girlfriend said to me, "You can't spend money on beer anymore."<br /><br />I asked her why...<br /><br />"Well," she said, "we just can't afford it."<br /><br />The next day she proceeded to buy 60 dollars worth of make-up.<br /><br />With a bit of confusion, I made a passing comment, "I though we couldn't afford beer anymore... why all the make-up."<br /><br />"I want to look good for you, baby," she told me.<br /><br />"That's what the beer was for!"<br /><br />She left me. <br /><br />Buddy told me this today... He presented it like it really happened to him. I still couldn't help but to laugh. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <div> </div><br /><div><span style="color:#0000ff" class="Apple-style-span">"If something's hard to do, then it's not worth doing." - Homer Simpson</span></div> </div>

 

[djtt]

dice are thoroughly tested and to very strict limits balanced.<br />some games involving alot of money are played with em so it should be that way

 

[qso1]

I'll have to remember that one next time I hook up with a girlfriend. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><strong>My borrowed quote for the time being:</strong></p><p><em>There are three kinds of people in life. Those who make it happen, those who watch it happen...and those who do not know what happened.</em></p> </div>

 

[djtt]

ahaha good one derek <img src="/images/icons/laugh.gif" />