RE: Evidence to Convict?
August 6, 2017 at 9:23 pm
(This post was last modified: August 6, 2017 at 9:25 pm by RoadRunner79.)
(August 6, 2017 at 8:25 pm)LadyForCamus Wrote:
I said practical difference, though. In other words, as an example of what I mean, if I am sitting on a jury for a man facing the death penalty, I (and I think/hope most rational folks) am going to say, "not guilty" whether there is no evidence or poor/insufficient evidence of his guilt.
I don't think we can have an intellectually honest discussion about the value of testimony as evidence without discussing extraordinary claims. I mean, that was the whole point of Steve's thread - do extraordinary claims demand a higher degree of evidence in order to be rationally accepted as true? My 'testimony' to my husband that I put our baby to bed at 8 is certainly sufficient evidence to him for the claim I've made. Now, if I said I put our baby down at 8, and he grew horns and sang Yankee Doodle in German out of his butt-hole...he may not accept that claim on my testimony alone, lol.
I would agree, as a conviction of belief, poor evidence, is going to have the same results (whatever form that evidence takes). And as I said, I think the extraordinary claims discussion is different. Shifting the goal posts from the general principles.
(August 6, 2017 at 8:52 pm)Rhondazvous Wrote: If some people were distracted and they still testified that you "maliciously injured" the guy, how is their testimony on a par with those who were paying attention, and how do the cops know which people were paying attention and which were distracted?
The way I was picturing it, they did not see the event, but seen immediately after. However I agree, that it could change based on the details.
It is said that an argument is what convinces reasonable men and a proof is what it takes to convince even an unreasonable man. - Alexander Vilenkin
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire. - Martin Luther
If I am shown my error, I will be the first to throw my books into the fire. - Martin Luther