Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Page 3 of 3 1 2 3
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Faldage disobligingly proves he isn't mortal

And Pfranz's "proof" disappears in a puff of logic.




Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
On one of those internet IQ tests floating around, one of the test items is a statement about truth, and the correct response, according to the test makers, is, in a nutshell, there is no knowing the truth. So, your IQ score goes up if you choose there is no knowing the truth. But there's probably no truth in any of the multiple-choice responses for that test item, so don't sweat it. Not that you were sweating it, but.

Anyway, I've been thinking about this falsifiable problem here for the last couple of days, and I have finally decided I like the word. For instance, in thinking about caffeine intake adversely affecting hydration (cross-thread ref. to I&A), I consider the view of a friend of mine who is a football coach. She says that caffeine is horrible, dehydrates, should not be consumed by athletes, and so on. I pointed out the Nebraska study to her, and she remains adamant about how horrible caffeine is. Well, in my way of thinking the Nebraska study falsified accepted views about caffeine and dehydration. Sure, caffeine is a diuretic, but the two test groups--those who didn't consume caffeine and the others who did--showed very little difference in their levels of hydration. So, I would say the theory about caffeine's adversely affecting levels of hydration in normal, healthy people was falsified, at least by the Nebraska study. And I also think that the Nebraska study at least makes me question the whole caffeine-dehydration issue enough that I would like to see further studies. And, being a biased caffeine addict, I especially want to hear reports of studies that will support my intake of most honorable coffee.


Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526
veteran
Offline
veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526


I've had Logic of Scientific Discovery for years, but haven't gotten around to reading it. I have, however, read Objective Knowledge http://geocities.com/elbillaf/read_001.html - twice. I think it explains the idea very clearly and makes a strong case for it.

k



#89528 12/17/02 03:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 122
R
rav Offline
member
Offline
member
R
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 122
falsifiability - A property of any proposition for which it is possible to specify a set of circumstances the occurrence of which would demonstrate that the proposition is false.

i think that set of circumstances is a clue.

i like the word but i also always had problems with good understanding of it. after reading this discussion i have no more.


Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
D
dxb Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
D
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
WW, do you have a link to this tantalising study that you can share with us please? I have colleagues, relatives and at least one wife who all go on at me - fortunately not in concert - regarding this subject. Also it has never been clarified to me whether decaff coffee and tea are also diuretics, perhaps this study deals with that. Thanks, D.


Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
W
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
W
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Here's the link to the caffeine study done in Nebraska:

http://www.pressrepublican.com/special/pulse_lib/1002p4a.htm

I must add that in rereading this information, it appears only 18 people were used in the study, and that ain't much of a study at all. Drat.

Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
D
dxb Offline
Pooh-Bah
Offline
Pooh-Bah
D
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
18? That does dent its credibility somewhat. Was it financed by the coffee industry?

Ed: just realised I posted my question in the wrong thread. Sorry about that - or was Mystic Meg at work on the board again?


Page 3 of 3 1 2 3

Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5