Science particularly as related to creation and the creation-evolution controversy
Science is inherently dualistic because it is based on distinctions, and cannot keep denying one side of a distinction without denying the distinction altogether. Duality is as far as science can go. Unification is a temporary state, to be superseded by a more abstract duality. Low-entropy science seeks fixed relations. High-entropy science seeks stochastic relations. […]
Galilean relativity requires the speed of light to be infinite (i.e., zero pace). Because the one-way speed of light is not known, it may be infinite as long as the two-way speed of light is finite. Such a situation is possible if light is conceived as in half-duplex telecommunications: one direction at a time is
Length and duration are independent measures of the extent of motion, which are measured by comparing the target motion to a uniform reference motion. Although uniform linear motion is simpler in theory, uniform circular motion is simpler in practice – especially for unstopped motion. With one addition, the classic circular clock with hands serves as
From Galileo’s Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, translated by Stillman Drake (UC Press, 1967): Salv. Now imagine yourself in a boat with your eyes fixed on point of the sail yard. Do you think that because the boat is moving along briskly, you will have to move your eyes in order to keep
The Principle of Relativity states that the laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference (IRF). Since a frame of reference includes an orientation, that is, a convention as to which rectilinear semi-axes are positive (and so which are negative), and since there is no preferred frame of reference, each frame
This is a follow-on to posts here and here. It is common to derive the Lorentz transformation assuming velocity reciprocity, which seems to say that if a body at rest in frame of reference S´ is observed from a frame of reference S that travels with relative velocity +v, then a body at rest in
Galilean relativity is a relational theory of motion as a function of time, which leads to the Galilean transformation. Here is a defense of Galilean relativity from two postulates: (1) The Galilean principle of relativity, which states that the laws of mechanics are invariant under a Galilean transformation. (2) A convention that rectilinear coordinates for
Everything in science is a combination of conventions and properties. For example, frames of reference have certain conventions in common and particular properties that each individual frame has. The definition of a frame of reference is the first convention. Every frame of reference has an origin and at least the possibility of one or more
Velocity reciprocity in relativity theory is the relation between two observers, each associated with a frame of reference and moving at different, but constant, velocities. That is, an observer-frame S observes another observer-frame S´ traveling with velocity +v relative to observer-frame S. A velocity reciprocity relation concerns the velocity of S that is observed by
Galileo Galilei’s inclined plane experiment is described in his work Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences, which I quote from the Dover edition. He speaks (through his character Salviati) of “those sciences where mathematical demonstrations are applied to natural phenomena, as is seen in the case of perspective, astronomy, mechanics, music, and others where the principles,
