Jonathan Vogel - SKEPTICISM AND INTERFERENCE
excerpt (p. 285):
For example, consider the claim that there is water on Mars. It
might be that water formed there long ago and remains to this
day. However, Mars is smaller than Earth and has a very
1.1
different surface and atmosphere. Maybe the martian water, if
A scientist cannot
any, was lost over the ages. In the absence of any infor- mation
know for certain
one way or the other—say, evidence provided by telescopes or by
whether there is
probes sent to Mars—a scientist who maintained or denied the
water on mars.
presence of water on Mars would just be guessing. She wouldn’t
know that her hypothesis is true, precisely because she has no
information favoring that hypothesis over its competitor.
2.1
There is no sufficient
evidence to prove
that there is water on
mars
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Water on mars may
Mars is smaller than
There is water on
There is a lack of
have formed long ago
Earth and has
Earth.
evidence from
and still exists.
different atmosphere
telescopes or probes
and conditions.
to confirm the
presence of water
4.1
4.2
Absence of evidence
Lack of evidence
does not necessarily
could be due to
indicate absence of
technological
water.
limitations or
insufficient
exploration.