Well that was fun and intriguing. I recently posted: Space (A.K.A. Outer Space, Cosmological Space) is not an empty void, not free of substance or form and set off a firestorm by a handful of commenters. I think I have uncovered a cult-like group operating among us that is every bit as fanatical as any religious cult. They are 100% sure of themselves even though they don't take into account the entire body of scientific evidence. They start with unjustified assumptions and adhere to these assumptions come hell or high water, dismissing anyone and any statement that does not conform to their preconceived notions. Moreover, some principles of physics are taken out of context and applied incorrectly to inappropriate conditions. They cherry pick the information and then simply claim "you don't know" to any contradicting argument. They are the true believers and everyone else should give respectful deference to them. To me, that pretty much defines a fanatical religious cult.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Similar to evolution denial in spirit. My own particular pet peeve, time is eternal because their intuition says something had to come before. We have verified evidence of time dilation proving it's not conserved or a universal constant.
Buttercup
Level 8
Mar 19, 2019
1
@TheAstroChuck I was told by one - 'ive known for years that time and space are infinite.', with an answer like that, it seems pointless to converse any further.
This is a good representation of how things have changed from my general science education back in H.S.
[facebook.com]
bigpawbullets
Level 9
Mar 19, 2019
0
@MissKathleen
For me yes. Adding in the dynamic of the sun moving through space presents more of a vortex pattern to the planets' orbits.
I like Electric Universe Theory/ Plasma Cosmology, so I am very familiar with the reactions you describe. Not so much from agnostic.com (but some), more from everyone in general. I like Suspicious 0bservers: [suspicious0bservers.org]
Markss76118
Level 7
Mar 19, 2019
0
Einstein conceded the need for an "aether" and added a "cosmological constant" to balance his equations. The concept has gone "in and out of style" since.
There are many who are still exploring what it is. Dark energy? Dark Matter? ...
Waves appear to require a substrate to move through. Yet, these analogies are not easy on the brain.
JacarC
Level 8
Mar 19, 2019
0
@TheAstroChuck There is still a need for the constant. Hence the use of the term (lambda) when attempting to explain all the "missing mass."
"""
From the 1930s until the late 1990s, most physicists assumed the cosmological constant to be equal to zero.[4] That changed with the surprising discovery in 1998 that the expansion of the universe is accelerating, implying the possibility of a positive nonzero value for the cosmological constant.[5]
"""
They often talk of people's "sacred cow" on "The Skeptics Guide to the Universe". That's theirs.
Stephanie99
Level 8
Mar 19, 2019
0
Chuck, you have hit the nail squarely on the head!
I’m going to look up that previous post of yours.
WilliamFleming
Level 8
Mar 19, 2019
3
@johnprytz This is a fascinating discussion, with a profound and astute truth being presented by a qualified physicist, and that truth being denied by those who cling to a shallow world view where space, time, and matter are taken to be primary and are not to be questioned. The irony is that the shallow world view is thought to be scientific by its adherents, and they dismiss the statements of the scientist as being unscientific.
I see space, time and things as being modes of thought. In ultimate reality beyond our senses those concepts have little or no meaning. Read “Reality is not What it Seems” by physicist Carlo Rovelli. One of his chapters is entitled “Time does not exist”.
IMO the practice of dogmatic scientism is based on ignorance and bigotry far worse than any religion.
@johnprytz It is not disagreement with the scientific view to say that space, time, and things are modes of thought. Our perception of reality is created by our own selves, a fact almost universally acknowledged since the days of Faraday and Maxwell. As an analogy, as a land surveyor I based small local surveys on the assumption that the earth is flat. That idea is a mode of thought which is useful for some purposes, even though from a higher perspective the earth can be seen as spheroidal.
How do you resolve your ideas of empty space with those of Einstein, where space is curved?
You have every right to wage your battles—it just gets tiresome for some of us—that is all.
I am pretty sure they would have a similar response pattern no matter the topic. Thats a dark matter for you to contemplate. By the way are there cows in space? that would be bovine!
btroje
Level 9
Mar 19, 2019
1
@TheAstroChuck newer technology will soon reveal that
Have you heard that it is Packed with Higg's Bosons? Because it is......
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Mar 19, 2019
1
Agree.
I look back on the stuff I was taught in Science classes in the 60s. Lots of those "truths" have fallen by the wayside. Sometimes it's hard to let go of that stuff.
bigpawbullets
Level 9
Mar 19, 2019
1
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