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Originally Posted by Robert Tulip
However, as Aristotle said, each winter is different, but they still follow the same general pattern. By not acknowledging this general pattern of precession you are trying to ignore the substance of my argument with questions analogous to saying that because one winter is colder or snowier than the last therefore the year does not exist.
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If you make the "pattern" general enough, there's no way you (or anyone) could fail to find matches. You're going to find some similiarities between Ancient Rome and any other civilization. Big deal. On the other hand, if you argue for very specific patterns, then you open yourself up to criticism on the validity of your comparisons.
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These are absolutely nitpicky complaints. In this example I have divided time into periods where the basic shape of events was the same in ancient and modern times, so of course there are specific differences.
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In your example, you divided time into periods that, in
your opinion were the same. Gillian pointed out problems with that, and I agree. It's a subjective argument, and a very fuzzy one at that, where you are ignoring the specifics of the events and the dates they happened, all to fit your supposed pattern.
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The cycle I am describing is deep and complex, but very much real (unlike the avowedly unscientific claims of Dutch).
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It's real to you. Dutch's claim was real to him. Like him, when people point out problems with your claim, you ignore them. You're going to insist it fits no matter what anyone says.