An expert tells you that "you can catch a cold by not wearing a coat when it is cold." You would
A) accept his statement since you remember catching a cold after you forgot your coat.
B) accept his statement because it is based on commonsense reasoning.
C) ask him to list additional experts that support his theory.
D) ask to see the empirical evidence that supports his theory.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement made by the expert is a hypothesis that needs empirical evidence to support it. Asking to see the evidence would help to determine the validity of the statement. Simply accepting the statement based on personal experience or common sense reasoning is not enough to prove it true. Additional experts supporting the theory may be useful, but ultimately the empirical evidence is what is important.

An Expert Tells You That "You Can Catch a Cold