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Skepticism, Science & Pseudoscience

Skinner

(63,645 posts)

3. I did not say it was arbitrary. Nor do I believe it to be arbitrary.

Reply to LiberalAndProud (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 15, 2015, 06:37 PM

Jul 2015

For the record, I personally agree with the decision to define planets in a way that excludes Pluto and other similar objects. I understand how and why that decision was made, and I think it was probably the best way to do it.

By what I take issue with is the the assertion by the OP that those who believe Pluto should still be considered a planet believe that science is up for a popular vote. This is unfair in this case.

I'm sticking up for people I disagree with. Hard to believe, I know.

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Once again, some DUers think science is a democratic proposition. [View all] HuckleB Jul 2015 OP

How Pluto is classified is as much a cultural exercise as a scientific one. Skinner Jul 2015 #1

You're wrong about the reason for the reclassification. LiberalAndProud Jul 2015 #2

I did not say it was arbitrary. Nor do I believe it to be arbitrary. Skinner Jul 2015 #3

So, you didn't acknowledge that other DUers thought it should be up for popular vote? HuckleB Jul 2015 #6

Pluto was reclassified as the largest object in the Kuiper Belt Warpy Jul 2015 #9

But it was up for vote - that's rather the point muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #13

That's rather like voting on evolution Warpy Jul 2015 #16

I dispute it's like the case of evolution muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #17

Post removed Post removed Jul 2015 #5

BTW, if you want to ban me, just do it. HuckleB Jul 2015 #7

Walt Starr did this so much better than you.... Little Star Jul 2015 #8

Why not hold democratic votes on other sciency stuff? Like abortion, vaccinations... DetlefK Jul 2015 #4

That's a weird argument you're putting forward there muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #10

But we need terms that are practical. DetlefK Jul 2015 #11

But wishing to use a definition that held for 75 years isn't 'pseudoscience' muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #12

It's not democracy per se. DetlefK Jul 2015 #14

But the decision isn't in the same category as the 'sciency stuff' you listed in #4 muriel_volestrangler Jul 2015 #15