Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Yggdrasill · 05-15-2003, 04:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shadowy Man:

Perhaps, but I guess what I am wondering is this: If you don't use the word "know" unless you are absolutely sure, what do you think you actually know?

As I said earlier "I know nothing, but I can't be sure about that, because there is always the possiblity that I actually know something.".

Quote:

And if you know nothing, then does the word "know" have any useful meaning. Could you redefine it to "has been proven to me to be"?

Yes, the word "know" is still useful, at least when you are discussing epistemology. No, I can't redefine it to "has been proven to me to be", but I am already using the definition "has been substantiated with an amount of evidence" (= relatively sure), and they mean more or less the same.

SULPHUR · 05-18-2003, 07:42 AM

I feel that 80% of the dis cussion was bullshit hidden by big words and lack of understanding of the problem.

Tenspace · 05-18-2003, 08:46 AM

Here's a quote from Cecil Adams of the Straight Dope: http://www.thestraightdope.com

Quote:

What we are dealing with here is essentially a cosmic pendulum. But let me explain a few basic concepts first. For one thing, we are going to disregard the problem of the earth's molten interior. There is no surer way to ruin a good discussion than to contaminate it with the facts.

Next, you must force yourself to accept the following notion: if you were somehow teleported to a cave in the center of the earth, you would find that you were weightless. This is because you would have approximately equal amounts of mass on all sides of you, which would cancel each other out.

Now then. If you jumped into a frictionless (and consequently airless) interpolar tube, you'd fall, obviously, picking up momentum as you went. As you approached the center of the earth the pull of gravity would decline and eventually (at the center) cease, but inertia would keep you going.

Once past center, though, the pull of the earth's mass behind you would begin to slow you down, at exactly the opposite rate that you'd accelerated. You'd come to a complete stop just at the brink of the Antarctic end of the tube, where you'd have an opportunity to wave gaily to the bunny rabbits or whatever they have out there before beginning to fall back in the opposite direciton. This process would continue forever.

Once we start figuring for the effects of atmospheric friction, of course, the situation changes. After a certain point in the course of falling you'd reach a top speed called "terminal velocity," where air resistance would counteract the accelerating effects of gravity. With less momentum, you'd only fall a relatively short distance past the center of the earth before you stopped and started heading in the other direction. Eventually you'd reach equilibrium at the earth's center.

Enjoy,

Tenspace

SULPHUR · 05-18-2003, 09:49 AM

Ever thought of a career as a comedian

Tenspace · 05-18-2003, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SULPHUR
Ever thought of a career as a comedian

No, but Cecil has.

Ten

Lobstrosity · 05-18-2003, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SULPHUR
I feel that 80% of the dis cussion was bullshit hidden by big words and lack of understanding of the problem.

I'm sorry, what exactly was "the problem"? This thread has branched to address many varying topics, so once again I find I have no idea to whom or what your posts refer.

05-18-2003, 07:42 AM	#102
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	opinion I feel that 80% of the dis cussion was bullshit hidden by big words and lack of understanding of the problem.

05-18-2003, 09:49 AM	#104
SULPHUR Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: hobart,tasmania Posts: 551	thanks Ever thought of a career as a comedian

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