Comments on: 1400 American Eyewitnesses of Living Pterosaurs http://knowablenews.com/blog/2010/02/10/1400-american-eyewitnesses-of-living-pterosaurs/ News to smile by Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:28:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: American Eyewitnesses of Living Pterosaurs « In a Nutshell http://knowablenews.com/blog/2010/02/10/1400-american-eyewitnesses-of-living-pterosaurs/comment-page-1/#comment-13 American Eyewitnesses of Living Pterosaurs « In a Nutshell Tue, 27 Apr 2010 17:39:41 +0000 http://knowablenews.com/blog/?p=21#comment-13 [...] Whitcomb got into trouble was in the possibility of circular reasoning, for other cryptozoologists seem to have taken him into account for his “1400″ [...] [...] Whitcomb got into trouble was in the possibility of circular reasoning, for other cryptozoologists seem to have taken him into account for his “1400″ [...]

]]> By: Nathaniel Coleman http://knowablenews.com/blog/2010/02/10/1400-american-eyewitnesses-of-living-pterosaurs/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Nathaniel Coleman Tue, 27 Apr 2010 16:57:49 +0000 http://knowablenews.com/blog/?p=21#comment-12 One or two cryptozoologists have said that this estimate of the number of eyewitnesses is circular reasoning. Perhaps they meant that the large number (1400) was guessed at to promote belief in living pterosaurs and that this belief would support those eyewitnesses who have come forward with their testimonies (far fewer than 1400). Belief in these few eyewitnesses would then support the larger number. That would be circular reasoning except for one thing: That's not what happened. It seems obvious, after reading Whitcomb's account of this, that he is not promoting belief with the number "1400," but simply estimating total eyewitnesses. He does promote belief with the reported eyewitness accounts; he has done this for years. Nobody has written more on the subject of living pterosaurs than he has, as far as I know, and he always seems to rely mostly on the eyewitness reports. Those who have recognized the significance of the eyewitness reports come to belief in living pterosaurs thereby. To them, there is nothing circular about any reasoning involved, for "1400" is simply a calculated estimate based on those eyewitness reports, which they have already come to believe. Those who disbelieve that any of the reported sightings are of living pterosaurs---those skeptics will also disbelieve in the larger number of estimated sightings. They will thereby dismiss "1400" and will not be involved in any circular reasoning. The only circular reasoning possible is with the thinking of Whitcomb himself. Since his own words do not support the opinion that he was thinking in this way, then we must conclude that there was probably no circular reasoning involved at all. One or two cryptozoologists have said that this estimate of the number of eyewitnesses is circular reasoning. Perhaps they meant that the large number (1400) was guessed at to promote belief in living pterosaurs and that this belief would support those eyewitnesses who have come forward with their testimonies (far fewer than 1400). Belief in these few eyewitnesses would then support the larger number. That would be circular reasoning except for one thing: That’s not what happened.

It seems obvious, after reading Whitcomb’s account of this, that he is not promoting belief with the number “1400,” but simply estimating total eyewitnesses. He does promote belief with the reported eyewitness accounts; he has done this for years. Nobody has written more on the subject of living pterosaurs than he has, as far as I know, and he always seems to rely mostly on the eyewitness reports.

Those who have recognized the significance of the eyewitness reports come to belief in living pterosaurs thereby. To them, there is nothing circular about any reasoning involved, for “1400″ is simply a calculated estimate based on those eyewitness reports, which they have already come to believe.

Those who disbelieve that any of the reported sightings are of living pterosaurs—those skeptics will also disbelieve in the larger number of estimated sightings. They will thereby dismiss “1400″ and will not be involved in any circular reasoning.

The only circular reasoning possible is with the thinking of Whitcomb himself. Since his own words do not support the opinion that he was thinking in this way, then we must conclude that there was probably no circular reasoning involved at all.

]]> By: Marine Observes Two Pterosaurs - Pterosaur Eyewitness http://knowablenews.com/blog/2010/02/10/1400-american-eyewitnesses-of-living-pterosaurs/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Marine Observes Two Pterosaurs - Pterosaur Eyewitness Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:14:59 +0000 http://knowablenews.com/blog/?p=21#comment-2 [...] had observed. That sketch has been around for many years, but it deserves a closer look, for other eyewitnesses have seen a similar [...] [...] had observed. That sketch has been around for many years, but it deserves a closer look, for other eyewitnesses have seen a similar [...]

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