[WikiEN-l] Wikipedia:Fringe noticeboards/Theory

[Ray Saintonge]

geni wrote:

>On 7/7/07, Ray Saintonge <saintonge at telus.net> wrote:
>  
>
>>The oblate spheroid shape of the earth was not likely observable in
>>Aristotle's time.  Such a deviation from Aristotle's conclusion that the
>>Earth was a sphere is trivial.
>>    
>>
>No because the Aristotelian model assumed perfect geometric shapes
>(see the shape of the orbitals). The perfect sphere thing also runs
>into problems if you manage to spot Baily's beads during an eclipse.
>
Did Aristotle ever observe Baily's beads?  How perfect is a perfect 
sphere.  Aristotle never denied the existence of hills and mountains.

>Such a deviation was not trivial at all then because it would involve
>tearing apart a key part of the model.
>
It's trivial enough to be beyond the observational powers of the time.

>>It's prmature to suggest that failing to mention Popper was indecent.
>>
>>Ec
>>    
>>
>Popper provides us with a complete philosophy. Einstein less so
>
>It also slows down the rate with which we can bring up Imre Lakatos
>and then Paul Feyerabend and start punching holes on the claim.
>
Charlotte did not mention falsificationism and Popper, you did.  You 
also introduced the word "decent."  It is presumptuous to suggest that 
she even knew about Popper.

Ec