Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Tinman · 01-28-2002, 03:51 PM

Imagine a world very much like our own, the same, except, for the trees. The trees are outwardly no different than our own except for one characteristic. Once a tree dies, at some point it falls and divides itself spontaneously into perfect cross sections. The appearance is identical to someone having taken a very fine saw and cleanly cut the trunk and branches into perfect portable sizes, ready for disposal. The parts fit perfectly. There is no controversy that this does indeed happen spontaneously since it has been observed countless times. As you might imagine, botanists, cell physiologists, molecular biologists, chemists and even physycists are at a complete loss to explain the phenomena. Of course, non-scientific theories abound and many people don't understand what all the fuss is about, "it just happens". But there are no scientific theories.

Tinman

Francois Tremblay · 01-28-2002, 04:10 PM

I think you forgot to get to any actual *point*...

Besides, if I understand your post correctly (although without a point this is difficult), you misunderstand that natural laws are not isolated. To posit any deviation from the laws that we know has profound repercussions. For example, when we examine science-fiction universes, the mere fact that human beings exist and survive demonstrates that a lot of the laws of nature that we know apply (the majority of physics, chemistry, biology, etc).

While it is not nearly as dramatic, whatever explanation is real in your imaginary world to explain the "spontaneous tree splitting" phenomenon must have inevitable repercussions in tree biology, or physics, or whatever (depending on the STS mechanism).

[ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: Franc28 ]

Devilnaut · 01-28-2002, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tinman:
Imagine a world very much like our own, the same, except, for the trees. The trees are outwardly no different than our own except for one characteristic. Once a tree dies, at some point it falls and divides itself spontaneously into perfect cross sections. The appearance is identical to someone having taken a very fine saw and cleanly cut the trunk and branches into perfect portable sizes, ready for disposal. The parts fit perfectly. There is no controversy that this does indeed happen spontaneously since it has been observed countless times. As you might imagine, botanists, cell physiologists, molecular biologists, chemists and even physycists are at a complete loss to explain the phenomena. Of course, non-scientific theories abound and many people don't understand what all the fuss is about, "it just happens". But there are no scientific theories.

Tinman

neat!

devilnaut

Tinman · 02-11-2002, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Franc28:
[QB]I think you forgot to get to any actual *point*...

]

Hint:

Read the first word of the parable.

<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

Arrowman · 02-11-2002, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tinman:


Hint:

Read the first word of the parable.

<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

OK - I'm imagining. And the point is?
<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

tronvillain · 02-11-2002, 07:28 PM

I don't want hints, I want you to explain what you intend this parable to show.

Francois Tremblay · 02-11-2002, 07:47 PM

I think you forgot to read the rest of my post... (^_^)

tronvillain · 02-11-2002, 09:33 PM

I'm going to assume that you're talking to Tinman rather than to me.

Arrowman · 02-11-2002, 10:06 PM

No, I imagine he was talking to me.
Kidding.

Francois Tremblay · 02-11-2002, 10:44 PM

Uh yea, sorry. I was talking to Tinman.

01-28-2002, 03:51 PM	#1
Tinman Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 35	A Parable of the Trees Imagine a world very much like our own, the same, except, for the trees. The trees are outwardly no different than our own except for one characteristic. Once a tree dies, at some point it falls and divides itself spontaneously into perfect cross sections. The appearance is identical to someone having taken a very fine saw and cleanly cut the trunk and branches into perfect portable sizes, ready for disposal. The parts fit perfectly. There is no controversy that this does indeed happen spontaneously since it has been observed countless times. As you might imagine, botanists, cell physiologists, molecular biologists, chemists and even physycists are at a complete loss to explain the phenomena. Of course, non-scientific theories abound and many people don't understand what all the fuss is about, "it just happens". But there are no scientific theories. Tinman

01-28-2002, 04:10 PM	#2
Francois Tremblay Banned Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 876	I think you forgot to get to any actual point... Besides, if I understand your post correctly (although without a point this is difficult), you misunderstand that natural laws are not isolated. To posit any deviation from the laws that we know has profound repercussions. For example, when we examine science-fiction universes, the mere fact that human beings exist and survive demonstrates that a lot of the laws of nature that we know apply (the majority of physics, chemistry, biology, etc). While it is not nearly as dramatic, whatever explanation is real in your imaginary world to explain the "spontaneous tree splitting" phenomenon must have inevitable repercussions in tree biology, or physics, or whatever (depending on the STS mechanism). [ January 28, 2002: Message edited by: Franc28 ]</p>

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02-11-2002, 07:28 PM	#6
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	I don't want hints, I want you to explain what you intend this parable to show.

02-11-2002, 07:47 PM	#7
Francois Tremblay Banned Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 876	I think you forgot to read the rest of my post... (^_^)

02-11-2002, 09:33 PM	#8
tronvillain Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 5,658	I'm going to assume that you're talking to Tinman rather than to me.

02-11-2002, 10:06 PM	#9
Arrowman Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Adelaide, South Australia Posts: 1,358	No, I imagine he was talking to me. Kidding.

02-11-2002, 10:44 PM	#10
Francois Tremblay Banned Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Montreal, QC Canada Posts: 876	Uh yea, sorry. I was talking to Tinman.

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