[meteorite-list] Pluto May Get Demoted After All

[Larry Lebofsky]

Hi Doug:

I never thought that I would admit to agreeing completely with Sterling (just 
kidding), but I am.

I have googled Kripke's credentials and I do not see how he would add anything 
to the committee. As I said before and I will say again, a lot of thought went 
into the formation of this committee from both the astronomical and astronomy 
history community. These are people who know the issues, who know the science 
(the words and concepts are far from arbitrary), and who, in general, did not 
come in with an agenda which was a problem with the first committee. This is 
not a linguistic issue, it is a science issue as to how one draws the line 
between planets and (whatever you want to call something smaller than a 
planet). It has implications with respect to the origin and evolution of our 
Solar System and other stellar systems.

Larry

Quoting MexicoDoug <MexicoDoug at aim.com>:

> Hi Sterling, you really don't have to disagree with me because you have
> edited an old message of mine to the point of completely changing its
> meaning - with a new meaning I disagree with as well..
> 
> Here's what I said: "The IAU Committee has utterly failed by not including a
> committee
> member of the class and stature of Saul Kripke.  Historians and
> Astronomers...but how about including someone with real experience and
> credentials in aprioricity who has danced with the likes of Kant (and
> usually held his own).  I trust they will remedy this, as good scientists
> not concerned about who shares their turf..."
> 
> Here's what you say I said:
> >     Mexico Doug said:
> > > The IAU Committee has utterly failed
> > > by not including... Historians...
> > > but how about including someone
> > > with real experience and credentials
> 
> I have no doubt that Owen Gingerich isn't the great historian you researched
> him to be and don't wish you to cut and paste my words erroneously to think
> I would have a different conclusion.  However, you have edited my post to
> appear that I don't recognize the quality of the historians on the
> "Committee".  Read it.  I am recognizing the committee has good astronomers
> and historians!!!
> 
> A more valid question is why is this committee needed, not taking for
> granted that it is a needed committee.  And if you Google Saul Kripke you
> will find his forte isn't really history at all, but rather he is the
> closest living example we have today of a Nobel laureate
> Philosopher-linguist whose specialty is this tyope of issue, and when words
> and concepts are arbitrary and when they are a priori - and when change is
> in order and when not, I would hastily suppose as well.
> 
> Best wishes, Doug
> 
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-- 
Dr. Larry A. Lebofsky
Senior Research Scientist
Co-editor, Meteorite                      "If you give a man a fish,   
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory               you feed him for a day.
1541 East University                       If you teach a man to fish,
University of Arizona                        you feed him for a lifetime."
Tucson, AZ 85721-0063                                     ~Chinese Proverb
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e-mail: lebofsky at lpl.arizona.edu