genkaus Wrote:My second impression was that you are attributing arbitrariness to the position taken on the topic, rather than the topic itself. That is, of the three explanations posited for formation of mercury, the one chosen by a person is arbitrary and picking others would be just as valid. And similarly, picking an option out of theism and atheism is arbitrary as well. I don't think that's what you mean, because you seem smarter than that. But if you do, then no, that is not the case because, even though the practice of science requires you to provide a margin of error, choosing the position that is 99% certain over the one that is 1% certain isn't arbitrary at all.
No, I meant the topic itself is arbitrary. To me it would be the equivalent of asking what your favourite colour is in the census as well as your religious affiliation.
Thanks for the rest of your post. It addressed my thoughts head on and I have to say I agree with all of it.
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it" ~ Aristotle