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Analogies are comparisons of two things, usually for clarification. A clock uses comparative based mechanics to keep time. On the other hand, these scientists a
by kordless 10y ago
Analogies are comparisons of two things, usually for clarification. A clock uses comparative based mechanics to keep time. On the other hand, these scientists are claiming their opinion is a "factual" event that can be compared to a "clock". I'm pointing out that someone is using mixed messaging to try to tell the future when the future hasn't happened yet. The last thing we need right now is for a bunch of people who "speak for science" trying to say that it's a fact we're closer to blowing ourselves up. It's a fact we haven't blown ourselves up yet and an opinion that it stays that way.
- grzm 10y agoIs the state of the world a fact? I'd argue it is. Are some states of the world have greater likelihood of global catastrophe than others? Likewise, I'd argue there are. Trying to determine whether that likelihood is greater or lesser compared to other times is useful, though it might not be easy (or even possible) to measure it quantitatively with arbitrary precision. In that sense the Doomsday Clock represents an opinion as opposed to a absolute numerical value. Some opinions are more valid than others. I think it's reasonable to weight the opinion of the The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board heavier than the average person, and I also think its something reasonable people can disagree about.