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Flat Earth Q&A / Axioms behind the FE theory?
« on: October 27, 2006, 02:15:26 PM »Quote
Scientific theories are informal -- they are sets of statements that we just sorta picked because they seem to work out nicely.
The reason we have the scientific principles and beliefs we have is because they match beautifully with what is observed in nature. In science, experimental data is always taken above theoretical information. If something we observe is in contradiction with something we initially believe to be true, does that mean our eyes have suddenly decided to lie to us or perhaps our theories are wrong? If experiments differ from what we expect, we work to develop a new theory consistent with what we observe rather than blindly sticking to our course.
From my experience flat-earthers throw out "conspiracy theories" on the basis that the experimental information contradicts what they believe; however, support for the conspiracy theories comes in the form of more theories which seem just as arbitrary as the conspiracies were in the first place.
A captain is sailing through the arctic. The first mate runs up and says to him, "captain, there is an iceberg dead ahead. What should we do?" The captain looks at his map and says, "there's no iceberg here! Keep going!"