Re: The HP Way

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:56:13 +0100, John Woodgate
<jmw@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In message <7l3bg2pgdjfp3it0s2l4497spe7mv8h8cv@xxxxxxx>, dated Mon, 11
Sep 2006, Jonathan Kirwan <jkirwan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes
On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 09:16:41 -0700, John Larkin
<jjlarkin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Mon, 11 Sep 2006 11:56:26 -0400, John Popelish <jpopelish@xxxxxxxx>
wrote:

John Larkin wrote:

How can you know, even using your definition of "mutation", that
mutations are always random? It certainly doesn't make sense that they
should be.


What's the alternative? Planned mutations?

More sophisticated algorithms.

Then you need to develop a theory for recognizing these algorithsms,
making quantitative predictions about them, and then checking existing
data as well as suggesting possible places to investigate; for seeing
if observed mutations (rates, specific locations and types, etc) can
confirm the idea. Otherwise, it's religion.

It's prima facie bad science. It may be religion, but not necessary.
Scientists can be deluded. It's a bit surprising that it took so long
for 'falsifiability' to be defined and propagated by Karl Popper. One
might have thought that it would have been conceived a century earlier.

I was being provocative in my comment. Just to get a reaction.

Jon
.

Relevant Pages

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