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METHODS OF EVALUATING KNOWLEDGE AND DETERMINING TRUTH:

The are several basic ways that people process knowledge and information regarding the world and human existence. These processes include "intuition", "common sense" "authority" or the "empirical and scientific method". Outlined below are the universal methods used to evaluate knowledge and determine truth, and the relative merits of each method.

INTUITION
People may have an "intuition" or "preminition" about many things in life. Such intiitions have often proved to be wrong or unfounded. Thus, intuition is not widely regarded as a PRIMARY method for acquiring truth.

COMMON SENSE
People often use their "common sense" to make many decisions and judgements. Aquiring self evident and commomly held beliefs through experience, based on observations, intuition and authority. However common sense can often be illfounded and uncritical. It is not normally used for serious investigation, and has limitations. And can often result in false conclusions. Thus, common sense must be rejected as a PRIMARY method of acquiring truth.

AUTHORITY
Relying on various "authorities" to define the nature and meaning of life and the cosmos may like result in unfounded and false conclusions. This is because authorities often disagree, having different points of view, or presuppositions, and bring different conclusions, at different times. Nor are the majority of authorities always right. Thus, authority must be rejected as a PRIMARY method of acquiring truth.

EMPIRICAL AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD
The "Empirical & Scientific Method" is based on observation. The strength of this method of evaluating knowledge and determining truth is that the observations and evidence is "public" for all to see. Conclusions do not depend on intuition, common sense, or authority. The evidence is public and the method is universally accepted. This may be a repeatable scientific experiment, or a newly discovered publicly viewed historical document. The Empirical & Scientific Method IS a PRIMARY method of acquiring truth, and is therefore the method used by FACTS OF FAITH in evaluating the alternative belief system presented.

CLASSES OF KNOWLEDGE:

CLASS 1
ANALYTIC STATEMENTS: (FORMAL LOGIC & MATHEMATICS)

CLASS 2
EMPIRICAL & SCIENTIFIC METHOD: (SCIENCE & HISTORY)
IS THE TRUELY VALID WAY TO APPROACH TRUTH:

It alone can accomplish to the SATISFACTION OF ALL what other methods of evaluating knowledge cannot.

It is OBJECTIVE and NOT SUBJECTIVE.

It can be TESTED for error, and the results are in themselves capable of determining what AUTHORITY to follow, and what COMMOM SENSE beliefs can be substantiated, and when ones INTUITIONS (presuppositions) are valid.

CLASS 3 WASTEPAPER: NOT ABLE TO BE TESTED

METHODS OF EVALUATING KNOWLEDGE AND DETERMINING TRUTH:
The are several basic ways that people process knowledge and information regarding the world and human existence. These processes include "intuition", "common sense" "authority" or the "empirical and scientific method". Outlined below are the universal methods used to evaluate knowledge and determine truth, and the relative merits of each method.
INTUITION	People may have an "intuition" or "preminition" about many things in life. Such intiitions have often proved to be wrong or unfounded. Thus, intuition is not widely regarded as a PRIMARY method for acquiring truth.
COMMON SENSE	People often use their "common sense" to make many decisions and judgements. Aquiring self evident and commomly held beliefs through experience, based on observations, intuition and authority. However common sense can often be illfounded and uncritical. It is not normally used for serious investigation, and has limitations. And can often result in false conclusions. Thus, common sense must be rejected as a PRIMARY method of acquiring truth.
AUTHORITY	Relying on various "authorities" to define the nature and meaning of life and the cosmos may like result in unfounded and false conclusions. This is because authorities often disagree, having different points of view, or presuppositions, and bring different conclusions, at different times. Nor are the majority of authorities always right. Thus, authority must be rejected as a PRIMARY method of acquiring truth.
EMPIRICAL AND SCIENTIFIC METHOD	The "Empirical & Scientific Method" is based on observation. The strength of this method of evaluating knowledge and determining truth is that the observations and evidence is "public" for all to see. Conclusions do not depend on intuition, common sense, or authority. The evidence is public and the method is universally accepted. This may be a repeatable scientific experiment, or a newly discovered publicly viewed historical document. The Empirical & Scientific Method IS a PRIMARY method of acquiring truth, and is therefore the method used by FACTS OF FAITH in evaluating the alternative belief system presented.
CLASSES OF KNOWLEDGE:
CLASS 1	ANALYTIC STATEMENTS: (FORMAL LOGIC & MATHEMATICS)
CLASS 2	EMPIRICAL & SCIENTIFIC METHOD: (SCIENCE & HISTORY) IS THE TRUELY VALID WAY TO APPROACH TRUTH: It alone can accomplish to the SATISFACTION OF ALL what other methods of evaluating knowledge cannot. It is OBJECTIVE and NOT SUBJECTIVE. It can be TESTED for error, and the results are in themselves capable of determining what AUTHORITY to follow, and what COMMOM SENSE beliefs can be substantiated, and when ones INTUITIONS (presuppositions) are valid.
CLASS 3	WASTEPAPER: NOT ABLE TO BE TESTED