There seems to be facts about everything but I have a fact about facts; they don't last for ever. I was looking at a book review of a book titled "The Half-Life Of Facts". Now that sounds like a book I would like to read. It is by Samuel Arbesman. The review stated that facts fall apart and some do so very famously. Ah yes, remember back when Pluto was a planet? The book says "Facts die, and are born, at specific, predictable rates". It says that a third of the animals that was thought to have gone extinct in the last 500 years have reappeared.
OK, I bet we can all think of facts that have been proven wrong. Like the kid in school who the teachers never thought would make out in this world but grew up to be very successful. Or how about the ugly girl who grew up to be beautiful. As technology advances, a lot of old facts are proven wrong. Why I used to think that when you turn 65, you are really old and over the hill. Now I am fixing to turn 70 on my next birthday and I my opinion of those now turning 65 are quite different. Some of my own facts are proven wrong. In fact a lot of them are. My wife tells me I am wrong all the time.
If all facts were real, then the earth would be flat. After that was proven wrong and it was decided that the earth was round, they then thought that the sun revolved around the earth. Now, some of us still thinks the whole universe revolves around them. Now, I know for a fact that it doesn't because it revolves around me!! Actually, it revolves around our three pups. See, even that fact about me was just proven wrong by me. I could go on and on and on, but I will let you suggest a lot more "facts" that had a half life. Now, don't you all have a half life, but a full and long life, you hear?
The beauty of science is that it is possible to get new facts as more is discovered. Many "facts" are only true for a limited set of circumstances. It's when they are expanded way beyond their special cases is when things get wobbly.
ReplyDeleteI watch the science channel more than any others, and their slogan is "Question Everything". I think those are good words to live by
ReplyDeleteYeah, that Pluto thing still has me miffed. How many years in science class did we have to memorize the names of ALL the planets? I hated that.
ReplyDeleteSixbears, you are correct on that. Facts are only fact until proven otherwise.
ReplyDeleteGypsy, I also agree we should question everything, except when my wife states a fact (grin).
Jill, I agree that it is something we knew as fact most of our lives. The question here is what is the definition of a planet. There are a couple of asteroids that are bigger than Pluto.