Re: Geology Quote


"Ozan Türkyilmaz" <ozan.turkyilmaz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:eth817$82d$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Perplexed in Peoria yazmis:
"Ozan T?rky?lmaz" <ozan.turkyilmaz@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:eth3hl$uo2$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"In most other sciences, theories can be tested by experiment. In
geology, our experiment has run to its present state and is impossible
to reproduce. Our common technique is to observe the results and infer
what the experiment was. Most of our work is thus inferential and
deductive. Rathr than being repulsed by this aspect of our work, I
believe most geologist are attracted by it"
John D. Winter from Preface of An Introduction To Igneous And
Metamorphic Petrology

i am sure attracted by the geology because we don't come up something
and cottect data. we collect dta then try to make sence of it.

The same thing is true of much of astronomy and biology. A distinction is sometimes
made between historical sciences and experimental sciences. In a historical science,
data is collected by observation and then hypotheses are generated about what
unobservable historical facts could have resulted (eventually) in the observations
we see. The number of historical hypotheses needed is large, but you don't have
as many hypotheses as data. There is a kind of compression taking place - a
historical fact explains many pieces of data, but you need many hypotheses to
explain many, many pieces of data.

i have some knowlage about astronomy (i read some book) however biology
is very much unknown to me. in astronomy, people observe the universe
and then come up with some theory explanes it.

Astronomy example:
1. Look at a lot of stars.
2. Plot a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and notice a pattern - the main sequence.
3. Develop a theory of stellar evolution explaining the pattern.

Geology example
1. Look at a lot of rocks.
2. Construct a progression and notice that the pattern in Scotland matches Eastern
North America back before 80 million years ago.
3. Construct a theory (continental drift) explaining the pattern.

Biology example
1. Look at a lot of birds.
2. Do systematics and note that the birds of the Galapagos are similar to the finches
of the South American mainland 1000 miles away.
3. Left as an excercise for the student.

In an experimental science, data is collected in controlled experiments which
focus on a single hypothesis which might ideally explain ALL of the data. You
end up with a smaller number of hypotheses which you then call 'laws of nature'.
The amount of data compression is much greater.

i wish i can make some experiments on continental arc metamophism or
earthqueks (i am living in a tectonicly active country).

It can be done. It seems I read something about injecting water into a place along
the San Andreas fault. Maybe get a series of small quakes instead of a big one. But
you probably need to try it in a place without too many people.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Geology Quote
    ... geology, our experiment has run to its present state and is ... in astronomy, people observe the universe ... Develop a theory of stellar evolution explaining the pattern. ... deep well injection are well known. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Geology Quote
    ... geology, our experiment has run to its present state and is impossible ... Our common technique is to observe the results and infer ... Plot a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and notice a pattern - the main sequence. ... Popular American proverb: "Nothing ventured, ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Geology Quote
    ... geology, our experiment has run to its present state and is impossible ... Our common technique is to observe the results and infer ... made between historical sciences and experimental sciences. ... Plot a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and notice a pattern - the main sequence. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Geology Quote
    ... geology, our experiment has run to its present state and is impossible ... Our common technique is to observe the results and infer ... The same thing is true of much of astronomy and biology. ... made between historical sciences and experimental sciences. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: Inside/Outside Earth Processes
    ... approach needed to investigate geology but the component parts should ... mesh as a whole picture and be understandable at a basic or intricate ... picture of Dorian Gray where real astronomy is concerned. ... about the laws of physics from the standpoint of homocentricity "Let ...
    (sci.geo.geology)