What makes a fact a fact?

[chuk_77]

People post news clips as fact but others disagree depending on who owns the paper

People quote TV and the "facts" are argued because media is bias

People post you tube videos and people argue its not fact

So, what does make a fact, a fact? How does it go from an opinion to an absolute fact? 

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

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@nevynreally wrote:

It seems it only matters if you lean left.

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Is that a fact or an opinion?

And if I said  "it only matters if you lean right" would that be a fact or an opinion?

This whole discussion reminds me a bit of a joke:

1st convict: so what are you in jail for?

2nd convict: a difference of opinion.

1st convict: what? how could you be jailed for that??

2nd convict: easy. I thought I was innocent, the jury thought I was guilty.

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On reflection, though I suppose it could be classed as a fact that it seems to you that it only matters if you lean left.

[softail-joanie]

Joanie's standard response is   'I don't understand'

? ? ????? ? ? I do understand ? ? ????? ? ?

.

[softail-joanie]

.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LICMmzOqLoE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkZgnoWMCDQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W49If890TI

.

[lionrose.7]

The fact is after reading all this thread I need a cup of Coffee

[chuk_77]

Same lion haha

Well that went along on its own merry little way. Sorry

It was indeed a genuine question, not interpersonal, hostile, other meaning or political just so we clear the air.

Its something that after reading the boards for so long had me thinking

[lionrose.7]

chuk was fun while it lasted 🙂

[gleee58]

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@chuk_77 wrote:

Same lion haha

Well that went along on its own merry little way. Sorry

It was indeed a genuine question, not interpersonal, hostile, other meaning or political just so we clear the air.

Its something that after reading the boards for so long had me thinking

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It was a good topic with the potential for an interesting conversation.  It was obviously not for interpersonal or hostile reasons.  It's a shame all posters couldn't appreciate that but life aint perfect and neither are chat boards.

[lind9650]

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@gleee58 wrote:

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@chuk_77 wrote:

Same lion haha

Well that went along on its own merry little way. Sorry

It was indeed a genuine question, not interpersonal, hostile, other meaning or political just so we clear the air.

Its something that after reading the boards for so long had me thinking

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It was a good topic with the potential for an interesting conversation.  It was obviously not for interpersonal or hostile reasons.  It's a shame all posters couldn't appreciate that but life aint perfect and neither are chat boards.

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And that is a fact.

[colic2bullsgirlore]

I love the fact that Newton's laws of motion were once taught as facts but now they are but an approximation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superseded_scientific_theories

Importance and range of validity

Newton's laws were verified by experiment and observation for over 200 years, and they are excellent approximations at the scales and speeds of everyday life.

Newton's laws of motion, together with his law of universal gravitation and the mathematical techniques of calculus, provided for the first time a unified quantitative explanation for a wide range of physical phenomena.

These three laws hold to a good approximation for macroscopic objects under everyday conditions.

[aftanas]

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@chuk_77 wrote:

People post news clips as fact but others disagree depending on who owns the paper

People quote TV and the "facts" are argued because media is bias

People post you tube videos and people argue its not fact

So, what does make a fact, a fact? How does it go from an opinion to an absolute fact? 

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A fact is a statement that is objective and verifiable.  An opinion is subjective.

For example, if the ambient air temperature hit 40 degrees Celsius an objective statement of fact about the weather would be that the temperature is 40 degrees Celsius.  To say that it was hot is an opinion.  An opinion may be based on fact, but it is still an opinion.  It doesn't become a fact because everyone agrees with it.

I think the problem here is an assumption that a fact has to be true.  A statement that the temperature is 40 degrees is a factual statement, but it may be untrue due to errors in the thermometer, in reading the thermometer or it may simply be a lie.  

The difference between a fact and an opinion is that a statement of fact is based on an observation and an opinion is based on a process of reasoning that may be based on facts (true or not) or assumptions of fact.