Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:30PM, d_p_m wrote:

Apr 19, 2012 -- 6:20PM, Ken wrote:

Obviously, we don't have to bother falsifying hypotheses derived from ancient mythology. Those are discredited simply by virtue of being what they are.

Well, they are not automatically falsified. On the other hand, the chance of them producing a useful scientific hypothesis is asymptotically close to zero, so it would be a real waste of time falsifying them.

I think they are automatically falsified because they don't rise to the level of scientiifc hypotheses. They were formed by people who wouldn't have known what a scientific hypothesis was if it bit them in the ass. They don't even qualify for consideration.