Epistemology

[Tiberius]

In your opinion what does evidence consist of?

Evidence is anything material that can be observed or tested under scientific conditions.

Do you think that evidence is that which proves something to be true?

No. Evidence is that which gives us the ability to derive theories. Further evidence can be said to "support" the theory. Theories come after the evidence, that is important to remember. The evidence itself is proof that the scientific fact happens. For example, we observe Evolution in many different ways. This observation is the evidence and the proof that Evolution is true. The theory of Evolution is the explanation of the evidence (how Evolution works etc).

What sources of knowledge do you accept as valid?

Any knowledge gained by scientific research using appropriate methods, supported by evidence.

Do you believe that task of science is to prove things?

Science is the study of what is true and how it works. Science doesn't prove things, the natural world does the proving. Science simply researches what is true to find out how it works.

What do you consider to be proof?

Anything you can observe is proof. What exactly it is proof of is a totally different matter. For instance, if I observed 10 pink elephants dancing around my room, it might not be proof that 10 pink elephants were dancing around my room, but that I was either drunk or crazy. Further observation and experimentation would determine this.