A story caricatures the much revered scientific method. "A scientist methodically studies the behaviour of a flea. He first orders it to jump: "Jump! ". The flea jumped as expected. He then cuts off its legs to see if they play an important role in its response: He then orders it to jump: "Jump! ". But the flea does not jump. So the scientist carefully notes in his notebook: "When you cut off the flea's legs, it becomes deaf. "
Haha, that's ironic. This story warns against non-scientific approach to science, and against religion-ridden morons like you who don't understand what the scientific method is. Specifically, it warns that in a controlled experiment, all the variables must be properly controlled and accounted for. When testing for the effect of variable A, you must make sure variables B, C and D remain unchanged, or your experiment will be vitiated.
Einstein's development of his General Relativity was characterised by his major struggles between whether the mathematics or the physics should lead the way. He went back and forth, perhaps he eventually was able to keep both considerations in his mind at the same time but nevertheless he made progress. This effort must have required enormous energy and determination.
An excellent analysis, John!
Thank you!
A story caricatures the much revered scientific method.
"A scientist methodically studies the behaviour of a flea.
He first orders it to jump:
"Jump! ".
The flea jumped as expected.
He then cuts off its legs to see if they play an important role in its response:
He then orders it to jump:
"Jump! ".
But the flea does not jump.
So the scientist carefully notes in his notebook: "When you cut off the flea's legs, it becomes deaf. "
Haha, that's ironic. This story warns against non-scientific approach to science, and against religion-ridden morons like you who don't understand what the scientific method is. Specifically, it warns that in a controlled experiment, all the variables must be properly controlled and accounted for. When testing for the effect of variable A, you must make sure variables B, C and D remain unchanged, or your experiment will be vitiated.
Einstein's development of his General Relativity was characterised by his major struggles between whether the mathematics or the physics should lead the way. He went back and forth, perhaps he eventually was able to keep both considerations in his mind at the same time but nevertheless he made progress. This effort must have required enormous energy and determination.
The Michaelson-Morley experiment was to disprove the existence of the aether, not to disprove Newton in favor of Einstein’s relativity.