From: Alexanian, Moorad (alexanian@uncw.edu)
Date: Thu Sep 18 2003 - 10:52:55 EDT
One has a better example and that is Dmitriy Mendeleev who proposed the periodic table in 1869 prior to the acceptance of atomism. In fact, Ludwig Boltzmann committed suicide in 1906, not because of non-acceptance of his kinetic theory and entropy but because scientists rejected atomism. Clearly, the periodic table gave rise to further studies and substantiated the theory of matter. The calendar just summarizes the obvious observation of periodicity in planetary motion. One is not against good observations but foremost in science is predication over explanation.
Moorad
-----Original Message-----
From: RFaussette@aol.com [mailto:RFaussette@aol.com]
Sent: Wed 9/17/2003 1:29 PM
To: Alexanian, Moorad; allenroy@peoplepc.com
Cc: asa@calvin.edu
Subject: Re: Post-Empiricism Science: A little surprised
In a message dated 9/17/03 8:39:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, alexanian@uncw.edu writes:
Ancients used to explain eclipses and why the sun rises but could not make predictions. The essence of a scientific theory is the ability to make predictions and not merely give explanations, which is pure phenomenology.
I may be misunderstanding you but 'calendars' are devices that predict the motion of heavenly bodies. If I am not mistaken the ancients even considered the processional cycle of the earth when they designed their 'axis mundis.'
rich
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