In each of the following examples, assume the reasons given are true or otherwise acceptable and judge whether you think the conclusion is established ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ – giving your...

In each of the following examples, assume the reasons given are true or otherwise acceptable and judge whether you think the conclusion is established ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ – giving your reasons.

8.7.1 Although the Earth looks ‘fl at’ to us when we are on its surface, and people believed it was fl at until quite recently, we have accumulated an enormous amount of evidence in the last few hundred years that it is roughly spherical. We can watch ships disappear over the horizon; ships and planes navigate successfully on the assumption that the world is roughly spherical; and more recently we even have pictures taken from space which show that the Earth is spherical. So it must be roughly spherical.

8.7.2 John has just slipped and fallen eight metres from a ladder onto a concrete path beside his house. Although he seemed to hit the ground hard, he is still conscious. He is motionless but groaning horribly and there seems to be blood coming out of his mouth. He must be seriously hurt.