python IRC & Command line

[Peter Hansen]

Jay O'Connor wrote:
> 
> In article <3ED26129.ED957109 at engcorp.com>, "Peter Hansen"
> <peter at engcorp.com> wrote:
> 
> > Jay O'Connor wrote:
> 
> >> Inductive logic.   So far every sysadmin tool I've used on a Python
> >> system has been written in Python Using inductive logic, I'd be willing
> >> to say that that sets a general rule
> >
> > Wow.... with this kind of logic, one could "prove" all manner of
> > interesting things.  Heck, around here the horizon looks pretty flat in
> > *all* directions, so therefore your logic would probably lead you to
> > conclude that the earth is flat.
> 
> Simple inductive logic.  You look at what happens in a given case.  If it
> happens consistantly and often enough, they you establish it as a rule.
> Inductive logic, though, is hard to absolutely prove; your rule can be
> overturned by counter data.
> 
> So yes, you could say 'based on the evidence at hand, the earth is flat'.
> That doesn't prove that the earth is flat, it just means that given
> available data, it's a supportable conclusion.   With new
> data, you disprove that premise, though.  With 'the earth is flat', the
> one make such an assertion is not considering all available data, though

Sorry Jay... I really should have included a smiley on my Wow comment.
I was not being serious...  (In other words, I _have_ heard of 
inductive logic at least once in my life.  Maybe it was PHIL 140,
Intro to Formal Logic, from first year university way back when... ;-)

-Peter