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Oct. 12th, 2004 04:52 pmAfter delivering a lecture on the solar system, philospher-psychologist William James was approached by an elderly lady who claimed she had a theory superior to the one described by him.
"We don't live on a ball rotating around the sun," she said. "We live on a crust of earth on the back of a giant turtle."
Not wishing to demolish this absurd argument with the massive scientific evidence at his command, James decided to dissuage his opponent gently.
"If your theory is correct, madam, what does this turtle stand on?"
"You're a very clever man, Mr. James, and that's a good question, but I can answer that. The first turtle stands on the back of a second, larger turtle."
"But what does this second turtle stand one?" James asked patiently.
The old lady crowed triumphantly. "It's no use, Mr. James - it's turtles all the way down."
- B. Nietschmann
"We don't live on a ball rotating around the sun," she said. "We live on a crust of earth on the back of a giant turtle."
Not wishing to demolish this absurd argument with the massive scientific evidence at his command, James decided to dissuage his opponent gently.
"If your theory is correct, madam, what does this turtle stand on?"
"You're a very clever man, Mr. James, and that's a good question, but I can answer that. The first turtle stands on the back of a second, larger turtle."
"But what does this second turtle stand one?" James asked patiently.
The old lady crowed triumphantly. "It's no use, Mr. James - it's turtles all the way down."
- B. Nietschmann
