Thursday, August 24, 2006

Faith in Science

Crap like this
is exactly why I'm not afraid to be skeptical of experts, especially in the field of science.

So, with a few redefinitions, can we do away with global warming??

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

And a tomato is a fruit.

BVM said...

My post is not about bashing science or the scientific method. Its more about how people can blindly put their faith in it (this goes for anything, not just science). Or maybe its more how I feel betrayed. The number of planets in our solar system seems like a simple subject. I didn't know it could be so easy to overturn such a simple fact.

My whole life I've been told there are 9 planets in our solar system. That number is in books everywhere. For the last 70 years its been FACT. Every child has read this fact. Its been taught, but were we ever taught that there has been a 70 year long fight regarding the legitimacy of Pluto as a planet? No. Were we ever taught that a basic description such as what makes something a planet had never been decided upon? No. You only found this out if you searched hard enough yourself.

I'm sure science is mostly right in the subjects it studies. Hell, you can argue that its 100% right until it proves itself wrong.

Redefinitions like this, which lead to such a major change in a basic number we've been taught our whole lives, can totally undermine someones ability to trust anything science says.

Arvin Leroux said...

I wonder if people reacted the same in 1930 when the number of "planets" grew?

Maximum Colossus said...

They should have just told us it was blown up by the Death Star. I think we all could have handled that a lot better.

Arvin Leroux said...

Perhaps, but I would guess then it wouldn't be too long before the Empire reached Earth.

But seriously, it's still Pluto, it's still a body in our solar system.

Like, if I called you a "faggot" you would know what I meant. Even though the definition has changed over time. Science has the ability to change it's definitions faster and have a big council about it I guess.

Though at various points in history the Vatican has has their own councils and made changes to it's definitions of things perhaps with greater effect on humanity that the definition of an incredibly distant and arguably worthless "planet."

That's right I called it a planet. With the new defintion of planets, Pluto is more deserving of the word with it's Greek etymological roots as "wanderer" than any of the other planets with regular orbits.

Anonymous said...

Arvin, you can call me anything you like. Just don't call me late for supper.
Wait, did I just say that?

Arvin Leroux said...

You're worth waiting for my friend, we'll set a plate aside for you.

Here's a short list of other councils who have met that have made changes to things of far greater influence than the re-classification of planets:

British Calendar Act of 1751
International Meridian Conference
Council of Trent

I imagine the redefinitions that came from any or all of the above have and will continue to effect us here on Earth for many years. Until, of course, another meeting is held and they switch it all up again.