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    The analogy to astronomy conflates inference to the best ... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The objection that the poverty of the stimulus argument fails to prove UG is innately known is not a legitimate complaint

    The analogy to astronomy conflates inference to the best explanation with inference to a uniquely innate explanation.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Astronomy infers distant objects exist through observable evidence; the analogy wrongly assumes language must be innate because it's best explained.
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    • 2.Best explanations can invoke learning, culture, or environmental factors; innateness is just one possible explanation among many.
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    • 3.The analogy commits a false dichotomy: assuming either something is innate or it cannot be adequately explained by inference.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Inferring to best explanation legitimately includes structural constraints; innate properties are sometimes the best empirical explanation.
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    • 2.Astronomy regularly infers to uniquely specified mechanisms (e.g., black holes); inferring to specific causal structures isn't inherently fallacious.
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    • 3.Language universals across isolated populations suggest innateness may be genuinely the best explanation, not a conflation of distinct inference types.
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    Truth & Knowledge1 linkedPhilosophy of Language1 linked

    Related

    Astronomy infers distant objects exist through observable evidence; the analogy ...Astronomy regularly infers to uniquely specified mechanisms (e.g., black holes);...Best explanations can invoke learning, culture, or environmental factors; innate...Inferring to best explanation legitimately includes structural constraints; inna...
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    Language universals across isolated populations suggest innateness may be genuin...The analogy commits a false dichotomy: assuming either something is innate or it...The objection that the poverty of the stimulus argument fails to prove UG is inn...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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