Frabjous Day

13 Dec 2011

In Which A Pigeonhole Topples The World

From Pharyngula:

The vast majority of scientists contend that evolution is an accepted cornerstone of modern science, and that there is no real scientific debate over the concept.

[Ricky] Line counters that “it’s interesting that the great majority of scientists felt Pluto was a planet until a short time ago, and now they have totally changed that. There are scientists who don’t believe that evolution happened.”

Whether Pluto counts as a “planet” or not is purely a matter of definitions. Rose, name, etc. Trivially recategorizing an insignificant lump of rock is not at all comparable to toppling a well-established scientific theory. The argument makes as much sense as thinking that since “Marathon” could become “Snickers”, all confectionery may turn out to be fruit.