Re: Raatikainen's critique of Chaitin

From: Jesse F. Hughes (jesse_at_phiwumbda.org)
Date: 09/08/04 

Date: Wed, 08 Sep 2004 15:16:53 +0200

Jussi Piitulainen <jpiitula@ling.helsinki.fi> writes:

> Jesse F. Hughes writes:
>> Robin Chapman writes:
>>> No, you denied it; you did not refute it.
>>
>> Unfortunately for those of us with backgrounds in math and logic, a
>> common meaning of "refute" is a synonym for "deny".
> [...]
>> It's not a usage I like, but it's common enough to be in some
>> dictionaries. I don't know if it's just an Americanism.
>
> A modern British dictionary, Collins Cobuild, lists it. It marks both
> uses (disprove and deny) as "formal" but not limited to any region.

Thanks.

Two online dictionaries do not list this looser meaning. Both
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) and WordNet give
definitions involving argument, evidence or proof, not mere assertion. 

-- 
Jesse F. Hughes
"Leaving things always seems to fix me,
  Running seems to ease my worried mind."
              -- Bad Livers, "Honey, I've Found a Brand New Way"

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