Re: memetics-digest V1 #1017

From: Jarmo Pystynen (jarmo.pystynen@kolumbus.fi)
Date: Sun Apr 14 2002 - 20:13:09 BST

  • Next message: Wade T.Smith: "Re: memetics-digest V1 #1017" 

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Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 22:13:09 +0300
Subject: Re: memetics-digest V1 #1017
From: Jarmo Pystynen <jarmo.pystynen@kolumbus.fi>
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    on 14.4.2002 18:36, memetics-digest at fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk wrote:

    >> It suggests that watching
    >> violence on TV DOES lead to a greater propensity for violent behavior
    >> in the
    >> viewer.

    Alright!
    Let's make a thought experiment!

    Let's first assume for the sake of argument that we have a hypothesis which
    states that
    "watching violence on TV creates violent behaviour in the viewer".
    How do we construct a test to prove this hypothesis correct?

    OK

    Now let's build up another hypothesis from a different starting point:
    "Watching violence on TV DOES NOT produce violent behaviour in the viewer"
    Now I ask you to provide a means to test this hypothesis!

    Reflect this dilemma for a minute and then answer me : is there any possible
    way to prove either one of these opposing views correct in any other than
    statistical way? This means simple counting of cases...

    Falsifiability does not enter into these hypotheses and that's their
    weakness!

    My point: simplified schemes DO NOT produce relevant results!
    Any human behaviour is a construct of various parameters and only a fool
    would make decisions based on one plain test set-up!

    Jarmo
    np. Flught

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