sdv wrote:
>
> Stanley
>
> The scientists proposed (believed) that a theory constituted a truth, a fact. They
> propogated this theory as a fact but with little or know empirical evidence to support
> them. It is perfectly ok to propogate a theory as a theory, it is not however
> acceptable to propose a theory and not to be able to produce any empirical evidence
> that supports it and worse still for the scientific community to not challenge the
> absurdity of the theory.
[snip]

I have read, but in a place that did not provide an "audit trail",
that Galileo was fully aware that he could not defend the
Copernican hypothesis against the Tychonic model. Galileo
supposedly wrote/said:

    "[The heliocentric design] may very easily turn out to be
    a most foolish hallucination and a majestic paradox."

I would appreciate if anyone can provide the reference for this
(or, if such be the case, show that it is apocryphal).

PS: I also heard from an [at least so far] unauditable but
possibly well informed source, that Tycho Brahe was
found about 10 years ago to have died of mercury poisoning, and *not* from
"politeness" (i.e., from a urinary blockage brought
on by not leaving the dinner table to heed the call of nature
in a timely fashion).  Again, any evidence one way or the
other will be appreciated.

+\brad mccormick

--
  Let your light so shine before men,
              that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)

  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)

<![%THINK;[SGML+APL]]> Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / [log in to unmask]
  914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
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