(August 6, 2011 at 3:24 pm)Rhythm Wrote:
I was hoping to avoid this massive amount of cut and paste with the generic abc example. I assumed that you would understand where you where incorrect without me dictating it to you.
(Major Premise)
N=R*fs*fp*ne*fl*fi*fc*L
(Minor Premise)-We could use each of these as their own premise, and of course we should, I've done this for ease of posting
R=20
fs=0.1
fp=0.5
ne=2
fl=1
fi=0.01
fc=0.01
L=10,000
(Conclusion)
11
I could write this instead as If A and B then C, or:
The Drake equation is valid
The variables we have determined are correct
There are ten detectable extraterrestrial civilizations within the Milky Way. (-1 for ourselves)
You see, numbers can be used to avoid unclear or malleable wording. If numbers could not be used to create a syllogism you would be unable to respond to this post from your PC. (let it sink in)
You can use numbers to represent anything at all you wish to say. Think of them as a common foreign language. In the end it doesn't matter if I use words, numbers, or colored shells the idea is represented as a syllogism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syllogism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_logic
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boolean_algebra_(logic)
Here's a great article for you
http://www.kerryr.net/pioneers/boolean.htm
Do you still need the multi-verse or can you build that yourself? Note that I do not believe in aliens. I accept the possibility that they could exist. If we ever find an alien I'll link you the wiki. Have fun while you're away.
Thanks, I did have a good time while I was away and I do not believe in aliens either, nor mult-verses. You are seriously trying to use the Drake equation as logical proof? I'll let the late Michael Crichton tell you why that fails...
Quote:
Cast your minds back to 1960. John F. Kennedy is president, commercial jet airplanes are just appearing, the biggest university mainframes have 12K of memory. And in Green Bank, West Virginia at the new National Radio Astronomy Observatory, a young astrophysicist named Frank Drake runs a two week project called Ozma, to search for extraterrestrial signals. A signal is received, to great excitement. It turns out to be false, but the excitement remains. In 1960, Drake organizes the first SETI conference, and came up with the now-famous Drake equation:
N=N*fp ne fl fi fc fL
Where N is the number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy; fp is the fraction with planets; ne is the number of planets per star capable of supporting life; fl is the fraction of planets where life evolves; fi is the fraction where intelligent life evolves; and fc is the fraction that communicates; and fL is the fraction of the planet’s life during which the communicating civilizations live.
This serious-looking equation gave SETI a serious footing as a legitimate intellectual inquiry. The problem, of course, is that none of the terms can be known, and most cannot even be estimated. The only way to work the equation is to fill in with guesses. And guesses—just so we’re clear—are merely expressions of prejudice. Nor can there be “informed guesses.” If you need to state how many planets with life choose to communicate, there is simply no way to make an informed guess. It’s simply prejudice.
As a result, the Drake equation can have any value from “billions and billions” to zero. An expression that can mean anything means nothing. Speaking precisely, the Drake equation is literally meaningless, and has nothing to do with science. I take the hard view that science involves the creation of testable hypotheses. The Drake equation cannot be tested and therefore SETI is not science. SETI is unquestionably a religion.
