We too are historically conditioned. What makes us think that we are right? Just for the record, the sun is not at the center of the solar system. The sun is at the center of the solar system in a model of the solar system that is much simpler than the epicycles of Ptolemy. Science argues from a metaphysical principle (Ockham's Razor: "do not multiply assumptions beyond necessity") that the simpler model is closer to reality, on grounds of aesthetics and utility. It is quite another thing to argue on the metaphysical grounds of "that is way the universe really is." It is dangerous to assume the moral equivalent of Ockham's Razor: whatever is simpler is right.

30 August 1996. Copyright information is available.