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I agree that when it comes down to teaching the kids,
the most important thing is to teach them how to learn, not what to learn! I think kids are sensible enough to know when anyone tells them This is the Truth, to harbor a few doubts...!
posted by
Ciel
on July 31, 2008 at 12:07 AM
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Re: This grabbed my interest --
Thanks for this excellent comment. I do not mean to say that all real astronomers are wrong in everything they deduce, but that there is always room for different perspectives and if something is a non-provable notion, regardless of the high degree of probability that it is true it should be taught as highly probable instead of absolute fact. There is also the probability, however slim, that the prevalent models that make sense with the currently gathered data can be very wrong in reality. If we start believing the theories of others without critical analysis and a good measure of doubt, we will never find alternative views that may eventually prove to be more accurate. Any paradigm shift, the lifeblood of the growth of knowledge in many cases, depends to a large degree on approaches different from those that are accepted as the norm. If we simply believe one theory or set of theories, we are no better than those who believed the Earth is flat or the Sun orbits the Earth. I am not of the school of thought that thinks it is good to let kids think we know everything and that everything they get taught is the undeniable absolute truth. I hope to rather teach them to think for themselves than to become parrots of the status quo. I hope this brings across the motive behind my article.
posted by
AardigeAfrikaner
on July 29, 2008 at 4:25 AM
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This grabbed my interest --
My dad was a radio astronomer, and I also grew up absorbing an appreciation of the heavens.
Like you, I am no astronomer, nor am I a mathematician by any stretch, and physics--well, I understand the basic physical laws, have a hint of an inkling of quantum physics. Still, though I myself don't know specifically how it's done, I am convinced that those who have put lifetimes into learning these things, and working with them, do indeed have legitimate ways to determine what is out there. Effects of gravity, motion or lack of motion, light on many wavelengths, radio waves... without doubt, there are also tools and methods I've never heard of! When there is a long list of conditions that all point in the direction of a thing, when everything around the proposed thing behaves as they would only if that thing were there-- well, I am willing to believe it's there, even without laying eyes or hands on it, or understanding exactly how the experts know.
It has always taken so long to get from initial propositions of theories to a point where many scientists can agree that a theory is sound. New ideas are fought back as long as anyone can come up with a question that needs an answer. Having many answers isn't good enough... having most of the answers won't convince some.
Theories seem to go from the first proposers being considered crackpots to a point where the last remaining disbelievers are the ones being considered the crackpots.
All I know for sure is that we will never have all the answers!
posted by
Ciel
on July 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM
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