Re: XP Requirement Analysis?

From: Universe (universe_at_tAkEcovad.OuT.net)
Date: 10/04/04 

Date: Mon, 04 Oct 2004 14:39:37 -0400

Dagfinn Reiersol <reiersol@online.no> wrote:

> You seem to have missed the fact that I'm summarizing the views of Paul
> Feyerabend, who was one of the big names in the philosophy of science,
> and who I'm sure knew the history of science far better than either of us.
>
> We know now that Galileo was basically right, and as you say, that his
> observations were "a major win for science". But that's with the benefit
> of hindsight....
>
> ... The question is, how strong were Galileo's reasons for
> believing that what he saw in the telescope was real, given the evidence
> and the theories--and the quality of the equipment--that were available
> at the time.
>
> ... he [Galileo]
> offers no /theoretical/ reasons why the telescope should be expected to
> give a true picture of the sky.

If everyone for years prior found indeed that what they saw in
telescopes actually was true, why would he have reason to question what
he saw.

NB: powerful motivations for improving "telescopy" were sighting enemy
and merchant ships at sea and coming toward land and for other military
purposes.

> "In addition to natural interpretations, Galileo also changes
> /sensations/ that seem to endanger Copernicus. He admits that there are
> such sensations, he praises Copernicus for having disregarded them,

Please, how did Galileo "endanger" the Copernican model of the solar
system. In fact Galileo *supported* the Copernican model against the
errant Ptolemaic earth centered model of the solar system.
>
> Nor does the initial /experience/ with the telescope provide such
> reasons. The first telescopic observations of the sky are indistinct,
> indeterminate, contradictory and in conflict with what everyone can see
> with his unaided eyes. And, the only theory that could have helped to
> separate telescopic illusions from vericidal phenomena was refuted by
> simple tests."

Please explain.

Elliott 

-- 
How can Bush be winning on terrorism when:
  ~ the war in Iraq diverts military and $$$
     from Al Queda et al?
  ~ Iraq is NOW a tremendous hot bed of terrorism?
How can Bush be an expert at foreign affairs when:
  ~ he's bungling the war in Iraq as just judged BY 
	INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS?
  ~ he's alienated and worsened world US support?

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