Threads ...

>>>>> hatunen@netcom.com (DaveHatunen) stated:

>>>>> Einstein's theory of special relativity did not simply overturn
>>>>> Newton's laws of mechanics. Instead it showed that Newton's laws are
>>>>> included in special relativity as the limiting case when v/c->0, and
>>>>> leaves newton's laws quite functional for very low values of v/c, such
>>>>> as almost everything peceptible by the senses.

>>>> Robert Erck responded:

>>>> Excellent explanation of how science progresses from simple to more
>>>> complex understandings, all of which much be consistent with reality.

>>> Dennis Nelson questions:

>>> But how does one know when one has reached the ultimate or final perfect
>>> understanding, or should one eternally keep searching?

>> meron@cars3.uchicago.edu remarks:

>> Good question.
>> And the answer is "one doesn't know for sure and never will".

> prfbrown@magna.com.au (Mountain Man) observes:

> Perhaps the reason for this is that whatever this "reality" is,
> it is constantly evolving into new forms and taking new turns
> and pathways ... for such is the nature of life.

meron@cars3.uchicago.edu (Mati Meron replies):

Possible. Though I meant the above in a more limited sense, basically
that even for static reality you can never be sure that you've reached
the ultimate level of explanation. Discoveries do not come with a
label saying "this is the final level of reality, search no further.

> prfbrown@magna.com.au (Mountain Man) follows up:

> Any understanding thereof cannot therefore ever be perfect
> or final - for both the understander and the understood
> are part of an evolving process.

meron@cars3.uchicago.edu (Mati Meron) sums up with the narrative:

Indeed. There is a lovely analogy in one of the old stories by
Stanislav Lem, which goes roughly (very roughly, I'm quoting from
memory, translating from Polish to English as I go along) as follows:

"Imagine a tribe of intelligent ants who live inside a typewriter (I said it is an old novel). Being intelligent, over time they gain perfect understanding of the inside workings of the typewriter. They know which gear moves which lever, what's going to occur when the carriage reaches a certain point, etc. The typewriter is their universe, they understand it and can explain it. Yet, they remain totally oblivious to the fact that the said typewriter is being used to write a novel"

Mati Meron                      | "When you argue with a fool,
meron@cars.uchicago.edu         |  chances are he is doing just the same"