In trying to judge between options 1 and 3, a particular parable by philosopher John Leslie comes to mind.11 In this parable, an individual faces a firing squad, and fifty expert marksmen aim their rifles to carry out the deed. The order is given, the shots ring out, and yet somehow all of the bullets miss and the condemned individual walks away unscathed. How could such a remarkable event be explained? Leslie suggests there are two possible alternatives, which correspond to our options 1 and 3. In the first place, there may have been thousands of executions being carried out in that same day,
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