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Prof. Moody, aren't there observations which falsify both the magician hypothesis and the etch-a-sketch hypothesis? After all, we come to know both are false by making observations. On what basis shall we say that in one case the observations do their falsifying only weakly, while in the other case they do it strongly? I still say there is no distinction. If you have a feeling that the magician hypothesis still could be true while the etch-a-sketch hypothesis is down for the count, why? Both are down for the count. You'd bet your life savings on the falsehood of either.

N.B.: This is not just epistemological arcana. This is a central issue to this colloquy. If there is no distinction between weak and strong falsification, then ID can't find any hope by taking refuge in the fact that its falsification has been only of the weak variety.

: -- Jim Ryan, philosophy prof., Huron College (posted 2/12, 3:15 p.m., U.S. Eastern time)

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