File spoon-archives/bhaskar.archive/bhaskar_1996/96-09-09.212, message 58


Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 13:27:16 -0500
From: derekh-AT-yorku.ca (Derek Hrynyshyn)
Subject: RE: Science on another planet


Tobin - thanks, I think you have done a good job of elaborating the
possibilities that I would think support what I was saying. The perception
of wavicles etc is just what I would have meant, if I had thought of it
myself.

But hans raises interesting issues as well. The idea that we are 'closer'
to gravity because non-polarized forces can be cumulative is hard to argue
with. But what if another planet had some species that did not feel gravity
but could sense magnetic charge?

Digression: To construct a thought experiment in which beings do not
perceive gravity - consider some kind of fish living in a liquid substance
on a planet very large so that the differences of gravitational force are
negligible as you mover further from the bottom of the ocean. Or perhaps
beings who live in a zero-gravity environment. (I can't quite think of a
plausible explanation for that one, but I am sure it must have happened on
some Star Trek episode....)

Wouldn't such beings be likely to think of electromagnetic forces first
then gravity later?

On a methodological level, I have to say that these kinds of thought
experiments can't be decisive or convincing in deciding between Hans'
position and mine. But I would guess that, even with my limited notions of
phyics and biology, I could continue to construct possible species that
could plausibly be expected to perceive the world in ways that lead to
different scientific histories.

This is not to deny the truth of what Hans has said about the layer-like
structure of fundamental forces.

But here is another point - consider the influence of extra-perceptual
forces such as economics on science. Another species just like us might not
hang on to capitalism as long and might develop theories that would be
necessary to develop solar power generation before atomic bombs.....

derek.


Derek Hrynyshyn,           Graduate Program
Phone: 650-2276               in Political Science,
derekh-AT-yorku.ca            York University    Ross S609

Communications Officer,      CUPE local 3903
cupe3903-AT-yorku.ca * Fax: 736-5480 * Office: 736 - 5154
http://www.yorku.ca/org/cupe/cupe3903.htm




   

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