14
R. Barrett and P. P. Delsanto
Outside the scientific domain, the double truth doctrine can be found in
certain religions. In Buddhism, Buddha’s teaching of the dharma is based on
two truths, one purely of worldly conventions, while the other is the ultimate
truth. Within the field of science, however, the double truth doctrine is no
longer acceptable, and any conflict of ideas is regarded as an indication that
our knowledge is incomplete, and more work is required.
1.5 An Oddly Named Asteroid
In this age of space exploration, we are all familiar with the nature of the
Solar System, which comprises the sun and a number of planets orbiting
with their satellites at increasing distances about this central star. Besides
the planets, there are millions of other astronomical objects orbiting around
the sun. Lying mainly between Mars and Jupiter are the asteroids, which are
thought to be the shattered remnants of bodies in the young solar nebula that
never grew large enough to become planets. Some of them are however rather
large (up to 1000 km in diameter). Although they are not as well-known as
the planets, their importance is now being recognised, a consequence of a
growing fear that one of them at some time may collide with the earth. The
United Nations has declared June 30th to be International Asteroid Day, in
an attempt to bring them to the attention of the general population.
An example of an asteroid is shown in Fig. 1.5. Asteroid 243 Ida has an
average diameter of 31 km, but is still large enough to have its own small
moon, Dactyl, which is just 1.4 km in diameter.
What is relevant for our story here is Asteroid 11,059, which bears the
name Nulliusinverba. This may appear a rather strange choice of name, until
one realizes that it is also the motto of the British Royal Society. So why does
a phrase owing its origin to a verse by the Latin poet, Horace, assume such
importance in science that it is enshrined in the names of celestial bodies and
mottos?
In English, the phrase means “on the word of no one” or “take nobody’s
word for it”. The Royal Society website [4] explains its motto as an expression
of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority
and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment.
It is an encapsulation of what separates (or in an ideal world should separate) science from other forms of human intellectual activity. That such an
approach to science has not always been the norm is reason enough to remind
us of its importance by a motto, or a name.
R. Barrett and P. P. Delsanto
Outside the scientific domain, the double truth doctrine can be found in
certain religions. In Buddhism, Buddha’s teaching of the dharma is based on
two truths, one purely of worldly conventions, while the other is the ultimate
truth. Within the field of science, however, the double truth doctrine is no
longer acceptable, and any conflict of ideas is regarded as an indication that
our knowledge is incomplete, and more work is required.
1.5 An Oddly Named Asteroid
In this age of space exploration, we are all familiar with the nature of the
Solar System, which comprises the sun and a number of planets orbiting
with their satellites at increasing distances about this central star. Besides
the planets, there are millions of other astronomical objects orbiting around
the sun. Lying mainly between Mars and Jupiter are the asteroids, which are
thought to be the shattered remnants of bodies in the young solar nebula that
never grew large enough to become planets. Some of them are however rather
large (up to 1000 km in diameter). Although they are not as well-known as
the planets, their importance is now being recognised, a consequence of a
growing fear that one of them at some time may collide with the earth. The
United Nations has declared June 30th to be International Asteroid Day, in
an attempt to bring them to the attention of the general population.
An example of an asteroid is shown in Fig. 1.5. Asteroid 243 Ida has an
average diameter of 31 km, but is still large enough to have its own small
moon, Dactyl, which is just 1.4 km in diameter.
What is relevant for our story here is Asteroid 11,059, which bears the
name Nulliusinverba. This may appear a rather strange choice of name, until
one realizes that it is also the motto of the British Royal Society. So why does
a phrase owing its origin to a verse by the Latin poet, Horace, assume such
importance in science that it is enshrined in the names of celestial bodies and
mottos?
In English, the phrase means “on the word of no one” or “take nobody’s
word for it”. The Royal Society website [4] explains its motto as an expression
of the determination of Fellows to withstand the domination of authority
and to verify all statements by an appeal to facts determined by experiment.
It is an encapsulation of what separates (or in an ideal world should separate) science from other forms of human intellectual activity. That such an
approach to science has not always been the norm is reason enough to remind
us of its importance by a motto, or a name.