tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post6473657227304097393..comments2024-01-08T00:25:24.777-08:00Comments on Philosophy of Science Portal: Yesterday [2006] Pluto was declared a non-planetMercuryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13757909461674304095noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-33574110230276273602010-08-25T19:16:41.525-07:002010-08-25T19:16:41.525-07:00"The issue really isn't about Pluto; it&#..."The issue really isn't about Pluto; it's about finding a classification system that can incorporate the wide variety of new discoveries in this and other solar systems."<br /><br />It took a long time to get you to write that, but that is exactly correct. The fundamental axiom of all science is "definition". If agreement to the definition of terms is not made, then a resolution [understanding] cannot be made on specific phenomena. This is why religious arguments inevitably fail...definitions cannot be mutually satisfied. <br /><br />And, as to the content of Wired's article, it was used to remind readers of the past event. Not all articles, even scholarly ones, are free from errors or unbiased. I sometimes offer a statement before the article...and, sometimes I don't to see if the reader can ferret out the errors and poor logic or even bias. That is what I did in this case. So far, you are the only responder and that did not disappoint me.<br /><br />I suppose the ultimate philosophical question is...when this issue is settled and you are satisfied with the result[s], what will you champion next? :)Mercuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13757909461674304095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-81420664752606888422010-08-25T18:46:55.454-07:002010-08-25T18:46:55.454-07:00I agree this begs to be resolved with a better set...I agree this begs to be resolved with a better set of definitions, and I am quite certain it will be--which is why I object to statements that convey the message that the issue is settled. One astronomer on an email list noted that it's okay to teach that sometimes, there isn't a clear right answer and wrong answer; rather, the answer depends on one's starting perspective.<br /><br />The issue really isn't about Pluto; it's about finding a classification system that can incorporate the wide variety of new discoveries in this and other solar systems. The same schematic used for this solar system should be also applicable to and used for exoplanets. Since we are certain to discover more and more unusual exoplanets, any planet definition may likely require ongoing refinement. Also, such efforts should include not just all IAU members, but the many planetary scientists who do not belong to the IAU. With today's technology, that should not be too difficult.Laurel Kornfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02387883186244337619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-3083133735227166462010-08-25T18:20:05.431-07:002010-08-25T18:20:05.431-07:00Laurel:
This has turned into a philosophical conu...Laurel:<br /><br />This has turned into a philosophical conundrum and will probably eclipse any scientific disclosure...Pluto is; Pluto isn't. <br /><br />Despite the errant decision of the 450+ remaining IAU members, the whole issue begs to be resolved with new and professionally accepted definitions.<br /><br />I think in time the focus will shift from a "poor Pluto" attitude to a more heuristic definition that can be acceptable to the scientific community and layperson.Mercuryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13757909461674304095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5216738179263317509.post-53649097905505694652010-08-25T16:52:42.012-07:002010-08-25T16:52:42.012-07:00Pluto is both a planet and a Kuiper Belt Object. T...Pluto is both a planet and a Kuiper Belt Object. The phrase "like it or not" conveys the message that the debate is over when this is not quite the case. The subject of what is a planet and whether Pluto counts as a planet continues to be debated in conferences, books, articles, etc. And I disagree about keeping moons out of the discussion. Dr. Alan Stern has proposed calling spherical moons of planets "satellite planets," as compositionally, they are very similar to planets except they orbit other planets instead of stars directly. Even Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson has put a plaque in the Hayden Planetarium acknowledging the lack of consensus in the scientific community regarding the status of Pluto. Many astronomers do not believe our solar system has only eight planets and favor instead the description by Alan Boyle, author of "The Case for Pluto," describing our solar system as having "four plus four plus more" planets.Laurel Kornfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02387883186244337619noreply@blogger.com