I hate to disrupt my silence for something frivolous, but this was too good to keep to myself.
From Wired News: State Might Make Pluto a Planet
New Mexico state representative Joni Marie Gutierrez has introduced a bill — to be voted on next Tuesday — that says, “as Pluto passes overhead through New Mexico’s excellent night skies, it be declared a planet.”
The bill is expected to pass easily, as Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930, is from Gutierrez’s district.
The Pluto debate itself highlighted for me the arbitrary nature of many definitions — as well as the fact that “objective” science is not operating so completely outside the framework of humanity as to be infallible in its classifications. Beyond that, well, I have to admit that I didn’t get all too worked up about Pluto’s demotion.
This possible action by New Mexico is far more interesting to me. I don’t really care how the state of New Mexico classifies Pluto, although it might prove for some awkwardness if New Mexican students are learning a different solar system than everyone else in the world. But I am disturbed by the idea of a government — at any level — passing legislation designed to supersede a scientific definition.
But then again, humanity’s justified some pretty hideous things in the name of science. Maybe highlighting its fallibility isn’t such a ridiculous thing to do.