Off topic: Crocodiles

[Mukesh Prasad <prasadm@polaroid.com>]

Anonymous wrote:
[snip]
> 
> There is one prediction the Croc o' Dile theory makes that Newtonian
> physics doesn't: The Croc o' Dile theory predicts the existence of the
> invisible crocodiles that cause the motion of the planets. ALL
> predictions made by a scientific theory MUST be subject to potential
> disproof; therefore, if the Croc o' Dile theory is a scientific theory,
> there must be some possible experiment or observation that would
> disprove this prediction if the theory is incorrect. If no such disproof
> is possible, the theory is not science, and will be dismissed by
> scientists.

Actually, there is no reason for it to be particularly
"dismissed", it simply is not useful.  It may or
not represent some kind of reality, but is not
concerned with measurable and observable reality.

If a crocodile theory were to include Newtonion mechanics,
it would be a useful way for making predictions.
But then, there is already a successful theory
for making predictions of this kind, so it would
have to differentiate itself from Newtonion
mechanics.

Now if invisible crocodiles were to provide
a good theory for something not properly
understood, Good scientists will investigate
this theory.

Most scientists would not.  But notice the
capitalization of good.  In practice
most scientists would not because it could
jeopardize their grants, and might make them
look foolish.  (At least until everybody
else and the popular journals started to talk
about crocodiles.)

Most people would believe crocodile theories
if they were a part of the culture, or if
it made them feel better to believe in
crocodiles.  A high part of a meme's survival
ability is how good it makes the believer
feel.