Re: Pluto vote 'hijacked' in revolt



On 2006-08-29, tholen@xxxxxxxxxxxx <tholen@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Astronomers don't need a definition for "planet", and IMO creating one
was a big mistake.

How else are astronomers supposed to answer the question "how many
planets are there in the solar system?" if we don't have a definition
of what a planet is?

That question comes from the public, not from astronomers.

You erroneously presuppose the question comes from the public, not
astronomers.

Not at all.

Yes at all. The question came from me, and I am an astronomer, so you
were erroneous in your presupposition that the question comes from the
public.

It is oxymoronic to assert that a definition isn't needed and that
questions can be answered by using a definition.

Irrelevant, given that no such assertion has been made.

Incorrrect. Check the text quoted above. The assertion that a
definition is not need has indeed been made.

I don't know why you make such easily disproved claim.


.



Relevant Pages

  • Re: Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered
    ... Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered ... Astronomers said Wednesday that they had found a miniature version of ... planets and room for smaller inner planets. ... discovery, they said, means that our solar system may be more typical ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered
    ... Smaller Version of the Solar System Is Discovered ... Astronomers said Wednesday that they had found a miniature version of ... planets and room for smaller inner planets. ... discovery, they said, means that our solar system may be more typical ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Pluto vote hijacked in revolt
    ... planets are there in the solar system?" ... astronomers. ... You erroneously presuppose I can't answer the question. ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Re: Pluto vote hijacked in revolt
    ... was a big mistake. ... planets are there in the solar system?" ... That question comes from the public, not from astronomers. ...
    (sci.astro)
  • Re: Pluto vote hijacked in revolt
    ... planets are there in the solar system?" ... astronomers do indeed need a definition of planet, ... assertion that they do not. ...
    (sci.astro)