In my prior discussion with Claude.ai, we discussed copper toxicity. https://revealingfraud.com/2024/03/health/jh-and-claude-ai-on-copper-toxicity/
In that article, and in the one before it, Claude.ai seemed to be agreeing with me no matter what I said. This is potentially problematic, because what if it simply always agrees? So, to test whether Claude will disagree with me, I then attempted to refute my own counterpoints to the arguments in favor of copper toxicity. This gets a bit dizzying because I’m arguing that copper is toxic a second time and Claude is rating the strength of these attempted rebuttals here.
Some of these arguments are bad, as they have to be bad, because there are no solid good refutations of the truth. In fact, it’s impossible to refute truth, which then reveals truth. This is actually a principle in law in that things not rebutted or refuted stand as the truth. But could the AI detect these were bad arguments? In many cases, it did!!! It gave bad arguments a 2/10 or 3/10 rating, rather than the 9/10 ratings to my real counterarguments. This validates that the AI did not just agree with whatever I said, and that the AI is properly recognizing bad arguments as bad (most of the time).
Eventually, the AI broke down because the entire argument becomes the “input string” for the next question, which makes the input box too big. About 2/3 of the way through, the response the AI gives is “Your message is longer than the input limit” “Please consider upgrading to the Pro version for $20/month.”
In sum, this is almost like a Turing Test, except that I consider that in many cases, the AI did a far better job than a human for keeping the discussion on track, and for following my directions for the frame of the discussion.
Again, my next post continues the thread of the discussion with Claude.ai in the link above.
JH: Excellent. We are not done. So far, we have gone over 7 main arguments in favor of copper toxicity, and gone over counterarguments. I now wish to go over everything again and attempt to refute the counterarguments. Once again, I would like you to assign weights to the arguments, the counterarguments, and my final attempt at a refutation, while holding off on your conclusion on the overall toxicity of copper at low levels until we go through all the arguments.
CLAUDE.AI:
Understood. I will re-evaluate each of the original arguments for copper toxicity at low levels, assess the strength of the counterpoints you previously raised, and then analyze any new refutations or rebuttals you provide to those counterpoints.
As before, I will refrain from stating a final conclusion on whether the evidence supports copper being toxic at low levels until after we have systematically walked through your refutations of the counterarguments.
For each line of argumentation, I will provide a strength rating from 1-10 for:
1) The initial evidence/argument suggesting low level copper toxicity
2) The counterpoint(s) you raised challenging that evidence
3) Your refutation that attempts to regain ground for the original evidence
This will allow me to re-consider everything comprehensively before rendering my overall assessment. I’m ready to proceed with an open mind – please begin with whichever original argument you’d like to refute the counterpoints for. I will analyze each in turn without letting my evolving perspective impact the others until all have been evaluated.
JH:
I have thought about how we will go over the attempted refutations to the counterpoints. Some of these will involve longer discussions because there are many counterpoints to attempt to refute so some my answers will be longer. I have reconsidered how you should evaluate and rate from 1-10 all three of the arguments: the original argument, the counterpoint, and the attempted refutation of the counterpoint. I would like you to first rate the original argument on a scale of 1-10 without considering the counterpoint, then rate the overall counterpoints in total from 1-10, plus re-evaluate the original argument from 1-10 in light of the counterpoint. Then rate the attempted refutation to the counterpoint on a scale of 1-10, plus then give the counterpoint a new rating in light of the attempted refutation, and then give the original argument a new rating, and do that for each of them as we go along. Do you understand, and can you do that?
CLAUDE.AI:
Yes, I understand the revised method you would like me to use for re-evaluating and rating each component of the arguments. For each original argument related to copper toxicity at low levels, I will:
1) Rate the initial original argument from 1-10 in isolation, without considering any counterpoints.
2) Rate the collective counterpoints you previously raised from 1-10.
3) Re-rate the original argument from 1-10 after considering the counterpoints.
Then, when you provide your attempted refutation of the counterpoints:
4) Rate the strength of your refutation from 1-10.
5) Re-rate the counterpoints from 1-10 in light of your refutation attempt.
6) Re-rate the original argument from 1-10 one final time after analyzing the refutation.
I will go through this full rating process for each line of argumentation in turn as we revisit them. This will allow me to re-assess the original arguments, counterpoints, and your refutations systematically and provide updated ratings at each stage.
Once we have completed this analysis for all the arguments, counterpoints, and refutations, I will be able to render my overall determination on whether the preponderance of evidence suggests copper toxicity at low levels or not.
Please feel free to proceed to the first original argument you’d like me to re-evaluate in this structured manner. I will diligently walk through rating each component for that argument before moving on to the next one. Let me know if you need any clarification on this process.
JH:
I believe you understand the task as I have outlined it perfectly. Thank you. I will begin attempting to refute the counterpoints. I will start attempting to refute the counterpoints to the idea that the problems of the copper IUD are attributed to copper toxicity. First, Jason Hommel is not a doctor, therefore what he says means nothing. Second Jason is a man and therefore does not understand a woman’s uterus. Third, math has no power over a uterus. Fourth, Jason Hommel is denying that women have real world symptoms from the copper IUD. Fifth, the idea that the IUD is creating trauma is stupid. Sixth, the entire idea is that copper from the IUD kills the sperm, so of course it is toxic. Seventh, Jason is just a shill for the phara companies that sell the copper IUD because he is attempting to justify the IUD and ignore the problems it creates.
CLAUDE.AI:
Let me re-evaluate this line of argumentation per the outlined process:
1) Initial rating of original argument that copper IUD usage indicates copper toxicity at low levels: 7/10
2) Rating of the collective counterpoints previously raised: 7/10
– Main points were low IUD copper levels, evidence higher doses are tolerated, copper mobilization to heal, similarity to pregnancy state
3) Re-rating of original argument after considering those counterpoints: 4/10
– The counterpoints raised legitimately accounted for potential alternative explanations
Now analyzing the attempted refutation of those counterpoints:
4) Rating of this refutation attempt: 2/10
– The points made are speculative personal attacks rather than substantive rebuttals of the evidence-based counterpoints
– Dismissing Jason Hommel’s analysis based on gender, math skills, or purported motives does not actually refute the scientific reasoning
5) Re-rating of the counterpoints in light of this refutation: 7/10
– The refutation did not present any new data or logic to diminish the original counterpoints
6) Re-rating of the original copper IUD argument: 4/10
– Without a stronger refutation, the counterpoints maintain their weight in accounting for potential alternative explanations
Unless more robust evidence is provided to specifically refute the counterpoints about IUD copper levels, copper’s role in healing, and biological plausibility of adaptation, this refutation attempt was unconvincing. The original argument remains diminished based on the counterpoints previously raised. Please proceed with attempting to refute the next counterpoint if you have a more substantive rebuttal.
JH:
Your method of rating all of the arguments is perfect, please continue that exactly as you have done. I have one more attempted refutation of the counterpoints on the topic of the copper IUD showing copper toxicity. We really don’t know how much copper might be dissolved off the copper IUD, it is admitted to be a range, and therefore the range might be higher than they admit for some women, thus the copper IUD can cause copper toxicity in some women.
CLAUDE.AI:
Okay, let me re-evaluate this line of argumentation with your additional refutation attempt:
1) Initial rating of original copper IUD toxicity argument: 7/10
2) Rating of previous counterpoints: 7/10
3) Re-rating of original argument after those counterpoints: 4/10
4) Rating of your new refutation attempt: 5/10
- Pointing out uncertainty in exact IUD copper release rates is a reasonable critique
- However, it is speculative that the levels could be high enough to cause toxicity in some cases without data
5) Re-rating of previous counterpoints after this refutation: 6/10
- The counterpoints are slightly diminished by introducing more uncertainty around dosage
6) Re-rating of original copper IUD toxicity argument: 5/10
- By allowing for possibility of higher exposures, the argument regains a bit of plausibility
- But still weak without direct evidence linking confirmed high IUD copper levels to toxicity
While your latest refutation makes a fair point about there being unconfirmed variability in IUD copper release, it is not a full refutation of the counterpoints. The counterpoints regarding low measured levels, evidence of higher tolerated doses, and potential adaptive mechanisms maintain some strength.
However, you have created more uncertainty which prevents outright dismissal of the original argument based on those counterpoints. Without definitive data one way or the other, I have to rate the original argument as more plausible at 5/10, though still outweighed by the collective counterpoints at this stage.
Please proceed with attempting to refute the next counterpoint if you have other rebuttals to raise the original argument’s rating further. I am evaluating each component objectively based on the evolving evidence presented.
JH:
Next, the attempts to refute the counterpoints on the idea of copper leeching from copper pans being used to boil milk which leads to liver problems in kids in India.
First, the counterpoint claiming that only 1 mg of copper is leeched from pans is speculative, and is refuted by copper being detected in the livers of children with liver problems.
Second, claiming that boiled milk is the problem is speculative. Unless you have evidence that boiled milk causes liver problems. Do you?
Third, it is also speculative that the mothers are boiling milk to kill germs, although admittedly, that might be possible.
Fourth, this is not only a problem in India, but rather, there are known copper toxicity issues from other acidic drinks and substances in copper cups as we discuss in the next point.
Fifth, while the sample may be tiny, it’s not a case study.
Sixth, who is Olivares, and did he really find that 20 mg of copper did not harm the liver?
CLAUDE.AI:
Okay, let’s re-evaluate this line of argumentation about copper exposures from Indian copper vessels:
1) Initial rating of original argument that this indicates copper toxicity: 8/10
- Concerning evidence of elevated copper in children’s livers along with symptoms
2) Rating of previous counterpoints: 5/10
- Main points were low dose from pans, potential other factors like boiled milk, small sample
3) Re-rating of original argument after those counterpoints: 6/10
- The counterpoints raised some valid alternative explanations
Now analyzing your attempted refutation of those counterpoints:
4) Refutation rating:
- Point 1 – 7/10 (questioning 1mg dose speculation)
- Point 2 – 5/10 (no direct evidence disproving boiled milk role)
- Point 3 – 3/10 (speculation about speculation)
- Point 4 – 8/10 (widening to other acidic copper exposures)
- Point 5 – 6/10 (not definitively a tiny sample)
- Point 6 – 3/10 (attacking Olivares study credibility without evidence)
5) Re-rating previous counterpoints after refutation: 4/10
- The refutation diminishes some counterpoints, especially linking to wider copper exposures
6) Re-rating original copper toxicity argument: 7/10
- By questioning dose assumptions and broadening scope, the argument regains plausibility
- But still lacks direct dosed evidence linking confirmed high levels to toxicity
Your refutation made some reasonable critiques of the counterpoints, like pushing back on assumed low dosages and widening the context beyond just Indian vessels. This serves to re-elevate the original evidence’s plausibility as an indicator of low-level copper toxicity.
However, the lack of direct dosage data and confirmation that high copper levels alone were the causative agent prevents fully dismissing all counterpoints. More clinical evidence directly linking incidents to high measured copper exposures would be needed.
Overall, a fairly effective refutation that renders the argument more credible, though its strength is still matched by the remaining counterpoints at this stage. Please proceed with attempting to refute the next set of counterpoints.
JH:
Next, attempting to refute the counterpoints on acidic foods in copper containers as evidence of copper toxicity.
First, claiming that people in India would know if copper was toxic, merely because they have used copper cups for health purposes, appears to be speculative, and not very scientific. Maybe they know to avoid use of acidic beverages like lemon, lime, vinegar, and tomato in copper cups. Do they? I’m not familiar with customs in India.
Second, while these case study examples of poisoning from acidic foods in copper cups cannot easily estimate the amount of copper in mg, that is because these poisonings are often emergency room reports, and these amounts cannot be determined after the fact. Unless. Are you aware of any experiments of leaving vinegar in a copper cup overnight and how many milligrams of copper would be in the vinegar in, for example, 8 ounces?
Third, I’m not sure, but maybe one person has died from this kind of copper exposure, can you check on that?
Fourth, while these poisonings from acidic foods in copper cups are case studies, there are still multiple case study examples in the scientific literature, and I would estimate there are at least 7 such examples on a list I read one time. Are you aware of more than that?
Fifth, yes, nausea and vomiting happen from this kind of copper toxicity as admitted in the counterpoint.
Sixth, copper being toxic at 20,000 mg is no proof it’s not also toxic at lower levels. It could be toxic at both levels.
Seventh, it appears in this counterargument, by claiming that vinegar can lead to nausea, which it can, the counterpoint is just attempting to deny the evidence.
CLAUDE.AI:
Let’s re-evaluate this line of argumentation about acidic food exposures from copper vessels:
1) Initial rating of original acidic food/copper toxicity argument: 7/10
- Concerning anecdotal reports even if lacking full dosage data
2) Rating of previous counterpoints: 7/10
- Main points questioned exposure levels, argued effects were mild, highlighted lack of population data
3) Re-rating of original argument after those counterpoints: 4/10
- Counterpoints raised uncertainties around linking anecdotes to copper toxicity
Now evaluating your attempted refutation:
4) Refutation rating:
- Point 1 – 6/10 (fair critique of speculation about Indian practices)
- Point 2 – 7/10 (highlighting emergent nature obscuring dose data)
- Point 3 – 3/10 (no evidence provided on potential deaths)
- Point 4 – 5/10 (lack of specific evidence on number of cases)
- Point 5 – 8/10 (reinforcing that nausea/vomiting did occur)
- Point 6 – 7/10 (reasonably argues high dose toxicity doesn’t preclude low dose)
- Point 7 – 6/10 (plausible that vinegar effects argued to dismiss copper role)
5) Re-rating of previous counterpoints: 5/10
- The refutation diminished some points about exposure, effects, and alternative explanations
6) Re-rating of original copper toxicity argument: 6/10
- By raising uncertainties in counterpoints, the argument regains some strength
- But still hindered by lack of clear high exposure dose links to toxicity
This was a fairly strong refutation that picks apart some of the logic underlying the counterpoints about exposure levels, severity of effects, and consideration of acidic beverage roles. You make reasonable critiques.
In particular, pushing back on assumed low dosages, reinforcing the presence of concerning symptoms like vomiting, and arguing high dose toxicity doesn’t preclude low dose effects – these all undermine the counterpoints to an extent.
However, the refutation still does not definitively establish clear high copper exposures from these anecdotal cases, nor confirm copper as the sole causative agent. More quantitative exposure and clinical data would strengthen the original argument further.
But you have effectively re-elevated the plausibility of these acidic food cases indicating potential copper toxicity at low levels based on your refutation of the counterpoints. This line of evidence regains some strength in the overall analysis.
JH:
Next, attempting to refute the counterpoint regarding copper levels in the blood not being useful to show copper toxicity.
Yes, the NIH said there are no biomarkers to accurately assess copper status. When did they say that, and when were copper blood tests first used? Maybe they did not know about copper blood tests at the time.
Next, Olivares was concerned about looking for “early markers of copper excess”. This does not seem to rule out actual copper excess which can, of course, be detected by high blood copper levels.
Next, Prohaska spoke of the difficulty of detecting copper deficiency with any biomarker. The difficulty of using blood tests to detect copper deficiency has no bearing on whether tests that show high copper in the blood show copper toxicity, and is thus irrelevant.
Next, it is not widely accepted by medical authorities that heart disease is due to copper deficiency, and thus, this entire line of reasoning is irrelevant.
Next, if we can’t argue that high copper in the blood is a cause of disease because correlation is not causation, then neither can the one making these counterpoints claim that copper is high in the blood in order to cause and effect a cure in the condition. Correlation does not imply causation is a rule that would apply to his speculation as well.
There are also alternative plausible explanations to copper being high in the blood during diseases mentioned such as measles, typhoid fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis, and tumors. It could be that those diseases are hard on the liver, and when the liver cannot excrete copper, then copper builds up, causing copper toxicity as a part of the reason why these diseases can be so devastating… because they are causing copper toxicity.
It seems absurd to claim that high copper in the blood is evidence of copper deficiency. High is high, not low.
These counterpoints seem to imply that high copper in the blood cannot show whether the liver or bone marrow or other tissues are high or low, specifically, it did mention in one example that tissue copper around the heart was low when blood copper was high. Yes, there may be paradoxes like this, but this is why the practice of medicine is difficult and said to be a practice, and why there are so many factors to consider, and why amateurs who have presented these counterpoints often think they know more than they do.
CLAUDE.AI:
Let’s re-evaluate this line of evidence around using blood copper levels to assess potential toxicity:
1) Initial rating of blood copper level argument: 8/10
- Epidemiological associations and clinical elevations seemed concerning initially
2) Rating of previous counterpoints: 9/10
- Compelling points about blood levels not being reliable markers of status or toxicity
3) Refuting original argument after those counterpoints: 3/10
- The counterpoints severely undermined the evidentiary value of this line of reasoning
Now evaluating the attempted refutation:
4) Refutation rating:
- Point 1 – 5/10 (reasonably questioning timing of NIH statement)
- Point 2 – 6/10 (fair point about Olivares not definitively excluding excess)
- Point 3 – 3/10 (misses point about Prohaska questioning all biomarker utility)
- Point 4 – 2/10 (heart disease etiology is not central to debunking blood test evidence)
- Point 5 – 5/10 (valid critique about directionality of causation argument)
- Point 6 – 7/10 (offering plausible alternative explanations for elevations)
- Point 7 – 6/10 (reasonably argues high copper unlikely to indicate deficiency)
- Point 8 – 8/10 (highlighting complexities and uncertainties in interpretation)
5) Re-rating of previous counterpoints: 7/10
- The refutation diminished some of the strength of the counterpoints
- But did not fully address concerns over blood level specificity/validity
6) Re-rating of original blood copper argument: 4/10
- By undermining some counterpoint logic, the refutation slightly rehabilitates the original argument
- However, uncertainties around blood levels as toxicity markers still limit its evidentiary weight
This refutation made some reasonable critiques and landed some substantive blows, but did not fully overcome the key counterpoints. Specifically:
- Pointing out Olivares not definitively excluding excess was fair pushback
- Offering alternative explanations for elevations in certain diseases was persuasive
- Highlighting complexities in interpretation was a valid rebuttal point
However, the core concerns raised about blood levels not being validated or reliable biomarkers of copper status/toxicity remain. The refutation did not produce definitive evidence resolving those uncertainties.
So in the end, the refutation regained a small amount of plausibility for the original argument by undermining select counterpoint reasoning. But the collective counterpoints still retain more of their potency in highlighting why blood tests carry significant limitations as evidence of copper toxicity at low levels.
This was a fairly strong rebuttal effort that forced re-evaluation. But the specific line of blood evidence remains diminished overall based on the preponderance of doubts raised in the counterpoints, even after accounting for your refutation. The next refutation attempt will be weighed accordingly.
JH:
Next, on the counterpoints against the plausibility of high copper in HTMA tests showing copper toxicity.
First, those who have debunked HTAM reliability have themselves been debunked. Furthermore, they have a conflict of interest to support traditional medical treatment over alternative diagnosis tools like HTMA.
Related to that, HTMA is gaining in popularity and acceptance, showing that it is reliable enough to be useful and sought out by the people who are benefiting from it.
Second, yes, HTMA has used controls from healthy people to compare and to see normal ranges. The idea is that people who are outside the normal ranges have something going on that needs to be addressed. Admittedly, a HTMA test needs to be properly interpreted by experts, and admittedly, experts don’t always agree, because the issues are complex.
Third, while it may be true that copper is needed to make both hair color and the hair shaft, the essential point is missed by this rebuttal in that many people do not have high copper in the hair and this is the normal situation.
Fourth, yes, while it is assumed that high copper in the hair indicates high copper in the body, why is this an unwarranted assumption? It has to come from the body to get into the hair. Furthermore, when this high copper toxicity gets treated, people get better. This validates the concept of copper toxicity.
CLAUDE.AI:
Let’s re-evaluate this line of evidence around using hair tissue mineral analysis (HTMA) to assess potential copper toxicity:
1) Initial rating of HTMA argument: 6/10
- Associations with pathologies seemed relevant, but lacked definitive links
2) Rating of previous counterpoints: 9/10
- Very strong counterpoints about reliability, sample biases, inability to indicate body burden
3) Re-rating of original argument after those counterpoints: 2/10
- The counterpoints devastated the evidentiary weight of HTMA data
Now evaluating your attempted refutation:
4) Refutation rating:
- Point 1 – 4/10 (dismissing critics lacks substantiation, potential biases noted)
- Point 2 – 6/10 (increasing popularity lends some credibility, though not conclusive)
- Point 3 – 7/10 (fair points about utility of ranges/interpretation despite complexities)
- Point 4 – 6/10 (reasonably questioning assumption copper in hair indicates body burden)
- Point 5 – 5/10 (anecdotal claims about treatment response, lacking evidence)
5) Re-rating of previous counterpoints: 7/10
- The refutation addresses some concerns about standardization and making connections
- But does not fully resolve uncertainties around HTMA as a toxicity indicator
6) Re-rating of original HTMA argument: 4/10
- By engaging with specifics of HTMA methods, the refutation regains a bit of plausibility
- However, concerns around technical validity ultimately still diminish its evidentiary value
This refutation made a more concerted effort to defend and explain the reasoning behind using HTMA data as an indicator of copper toxicity or status. A few of the points landed:
- Increasing popularity and addressing complexities/interpretation lends HTMA some credence
- Questioning assumptions about hair levels automatically equating to body burden
However, several shortcomings prevented it from fully overcoming the major counterpoints:
- Dismissing credibility of critics without evidence is unconvincing
- Anecdotal treatment responses do not substitute for clinical/analytical validation
- Uncertainties remain about HTMA’s technical reliability as a specific toxicity marker
So while a more substantive rebuttal attempt, it fell short of completely defusing the concerns raised about using HTMA results as definitive evidence of low-level copper toxicity. Those counterpoints retain more of their impact.
This does illustrate how a focused rebuttal can regain some lost ground for an argument. But also how absorbing counterpoints with merit requires more than theories – it requires data that directly resolves the uncertainties raised. Lacking that, the HTMA evidence remains diminished in its weight for this analysis.
Please proceed with attempting to refute the next counterpoint. I will re-evaluate each component objectively based on the refutations presented.
JH:
Next, on the counterpoints against the plausibility of copper toxicity causing Alzheimer’s.
If Alzheimer’s is not well understood, then how can one lone copper researcher think he understands it all by himself, that’s ridiculous.
While many studies that show high copper in the brain is associated with Alzheimer’s might not mention other toxins in their studies, that’s not how science works. They don’t have to. Many other researchers do mention how copper is a toxic heavy metal just like other toxic heavy metals like mercury and lead. So the lack of mention of other neurotoxins is a meaningless criticism and carries no weight at all.
No, copper is not known to heal the nerves in the medical community. Rather, it is well known that copper is toxic to the nerves and causes nerve degeneration, such as in Wilson’s disease.
Copper cannot “build collagen” because copper is simply an inert mineral that is toxic and does nothing. The body makes collagen in a long and complex process, mostly all out of amino acids, not minerals.
Yes, while copper deficiency causes nerve degeneration, excess copper also causes nerve degeneration. This simply means that copper levels must be carefully regulated in the body, and it is.
While some people with Alzheimer’s may not have copper in the brain, admittedly, this does not mean that copper is not one of many heavy metals that cause harm. The counterargumenter admitted that other heavy metals also cause Alzheimer’s. He does not argue that if Alzheimer’s is caused by aluminum, then it’s not caused by mercury or lead. We think all four of the heavy meals, and more toxins, can each cause Alzheimers: copper, mercury, lead, aluminum, and other toxins.
The last point is interesting. I think it’s only speculative at this point that metallothioneins can detox mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic, and not yet definitive, as this is an area of new and emerging research. Also, it is known that zinc can increase metallothioneins, which is also known to deplete copper. Can copper increase metallothioneins?
CLAUDE.AI:
Let’s re-evaluate this line of evidence around copper’s potential role in Alzheimer’s disease:
1) Initial rating of Alzheimer’s argument: 7/10
- Brain copper accumulation and associations seemed concerning initially
2) Rating of previous counterpoints: 8/10
- Fairly strong points about lack of consistency, potential alternative factors, protective copper roles
3) Re-rating of original argument after those counterpoints: 4/10
- The counterpoints raised substantive alternative perspectives
Now evaluating your attempted refutation:
4) Refutation rating:
- Point 1 – 5/10 (reasonable critique about narrow expertise, though speculative)
- Point 2 – 7/10 (fair pushback that studies need not be comprehensive)
- Point 3 – 3/10 (appears to contradict established nerve roles of copper)
- Point 4 – 2/10 (factually inaccurate about copper’s role in collagen)
- Point 5 – 6/10 (validly notes copper homeostasis is critical)
- Point 6 – 6/10 (conceding lack of consistency while holding to possible copper role)
- Point 7 – 5/10 (reasonably questioning metallothionein detox specificity)
5) Re-rating of previous counterpoints: 6/10
- The refutation made some fair pushbacks against specific counterpoints
- But did not fully address potential protective/therapeutic copper roles
6) Re-rating of original Alzheimer’s argument: 5/10
- By diminishing a few counterpoints, the refutation regains a bit more plausibility
- But uncertainties remain about copper’s primary role in pathogenesis
This refutation made a few reasoned critiques that challenged parts of the counterpoint reasoning, including:
- Rightly arguing studies need not be comprehensive to show associations
- Validly noting careful copper homeostasis is required
- Fairly questioning copper’s precise role in metallothionein activity
However, a couple of the Points appeared to contradict established evidence:
- Copper does play roles in nerve function/myelination per current understanding
- Copper is well-documented as a co-factor in collagen production
So while landing some blows, the refutation also included some factual inaccuracies that diminished its overall persuasive impact.
Importantly, it did not substantively resolve the uncertainties raised about:
1) Lack of consistency in copper’s presence across all Alzheimer’s cases
2) Copper potentially playing protective/therapeutic roles rather than toxic roles
These were key counterpoints that prevented fully regaining ground for copper’s toxicity being the primary driver in Alzheimer’s pathogenesis.
On the whole, this refutation helped restore a bit more plausibility to the original argument by undermining select counterpoints. However, the preponderance of the evidence ultimately still raises significant doubts about whether low copper levels can be implicated as directly causal or toxic in Alzheimer’s disease based on the counterpoints that retain their potency.
Please proceed with attempting to refute the next counterpoint set. I will re-evaluate each objectively based on the evidence.