Three skeptics' debate tools examined: Occam's razor, assigning burden of proof, and Sagan's phrase about extraordinary claims are often misunderstood. In a debate it always pays to know why these tools work.(Carl Sagan)
From: Skeptical Inquirer
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Date: 1/1/2002
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Author: Caso, Alvaro
Every skeptic should have a toolbox full of debate gadgets to help and guide him or her when confronted by believers of all flavors. This box should include a burden-of-proof compass. It's a useful gizmo that points to whoever has to prove his or her claims. It should be well calibrated; else it tends to always point away from you. You will also need a razor, by Occam, to cut through the boneless lard of unnecessary entities. It should be sharp--unnecessary entities are soft but they ...
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