Re: New subjectline: Valid and invalid arguments; former: Cocaine in ancient Egypt?

From: Doug Weller (dweller_at_ramtops.removethisdemon.co.uk)
Date: 01/21/05 

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 05:59:52 +0000

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 23:39:47 GMT, in sci.archaeology, I.E_Johansson wrote:

>Alan,
>what you wrote in your former post isn't exactly what you expressed in the
>latest one. With the later I can agree with the former as the sentences were
>I can't.
>OK Thanks for clearing it out that an absence of evidence can't be treated
>as an evidence of absence. That's important. That it can be used as an
>indicator one or both ways is a totally different thing.

Not in English it isn't. Oxford Dictionary of English (the big single
volume one):
"the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or
proposition is true or valid"
That's the first meaning given, the 3rd is "signs or indications of
something"

Absence of evidence is evidence (indication) of absence. That's what it
means in English. As Alan says, you've misunderstood the English meaning
of the word.

Doug 

-- 
Doug Weller -- exorcise the demon to reply
Doug & Helen's Dogs http://www.dougandhelen.com
A Director and Moderator of The Hall of Ma'at http://www.hallofmaat.com
Doug's Archaeology Site: http://www.ramtops.co.uk

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