RE: Re[2]: interview with Oracle

Fri, 1 Jul 2005 10:08:13 -0700

The Pope's infallibility was *officially* declared in 1870, but it was 
tradition long before then.  And, the doctrine of infallability does not apply 
to everything the Pope ever says, it is only invoked under very specific 
situations.  Here is a good link for more info: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papal_infallibility (just taught me everything I 
know on the subject :-)

Of course, papal infallibility doesn't mean much to the majority of the world 
population, being non-Catholic.

-----Original Message-----
From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of MacGregor, Ian A.
Sent: Friday, July 01, 2005 9:38 AM
To: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: RE: Re[2]: interview with Oracle

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0630_050630_top25science.html

This is a list of the 25 the top science questions.  Note the reference to 
Descartes.  Rene doubted his own existence.  I'd say that tops Bishop 
Berkeley's musings on toppling timber.

Pope's were not declared infallible until 1870.

Ian MacGregor
Stanford Linear Accelerator Center
ian@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

-----Original Message-----
From: oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:oracle-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Jonathan Gennick
Sent: Thursday, June 30, 2005 7:19 PM
To: Dougie McGibbon
Cc: oracle-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re[2]: interview with Oracle

Thursday, June 30, 2005, 4:33:02 PM, Dougie McGibbon (DMcGibbon@xxxxxxxxxxxx) 
wrote:
DM> If you were transported back into the 14th century, how would you convince
DM> the pope that the Earth was round ?

I was discussing this very problem with a neighbor kid today<grin>. We
were actually discussing the question of whether a falling tree makes
noise if no one is around to hear it, but the issue is the same. Of
course the tree makes noise, and anyone who argues differently is just
trying to annoy and frustrate you (though I suppose you might first
need to agree on a definition for "noise").

The solution is not to argue the point at all. I don't waste energy on
such arguments. Life is far less frustrating that way. It's pointless
to argue with someone who already knows they are arguing for something
that isn't true.

The pope is infallible, so, of course, any pope in the 14th century
already knew the earth was round. Were such a pope to argue that the
earth was flat, he would just be trying to "get your goat", so to
speak, to annoy you, and you're best off ignoring him. After all, if
he's purposely arguing a position he knows is wrong, no argument you
can give will change his position.

That's my answer, and I'm stickin' to it :-)

Best regards,

Jonathan Gennick --- Brighten the corner where you are
http://Gennick.com * 906.387.1698 * mailto:jonathan@xxxxxxxxxxx

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