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It Just Is

I wonder how much of what we 'know' has ever been properly explained? Our teachers repeat what they have been taught and our text books are re-writes of earlier text books. Perhaps that is the way to pass exams, don't think about what is missing, just repeat what was taught and so it goes on.


Lately I have been looking through some of my old 'how it works' books from my childhood, encyclopedias, atlases and 'online' to see what they say about the Earth's seasons. At least they all agree! It is all down to the tilt of the Earth's axis, the northern hemisphere points towards the Sun in the summer and away from the Sun in winter. Simple! We don't need to know anything more.


A simple experiment: Take a dinner plate and place an apple near the rim with its stalk pointing slightly towards the centre, a model of the tilted Earth. Now slowly and carefully twist the plate on top of a table so as not to disturb the apple until the plate has turned through 180 degrees. Now which way is the apple pointing? Do you still understand the seasons or did you have a book/teacher that really explained it? Perhaps you are a heretic and thought for yourself? Andy Millar raised some of these issues in "You don't need practical skills to be an engineer", 'knowing' how to do something can stop new thinking.


Have a virtual mug of coffee and think about it!
Parents
  • If I had £1 for everytime I've explained to someone why/how we have seasons and why there is such an extreme change in day/night lengths for the UK over the course of a year...! Lets just say I'd be able to afford to go to an equatorial country on holiday where their day lengths don't really change that much (and where it's always summer all year round... wink)


    I agree with you Alasdair Anderson‍, it's ALWAYS a good idea to challenge accepted wisdom and current thinking otherwise we'd never do anything different or create anything new!


    It puts me in mind of an argument I once had with my English tutor when I questioned the perception of what is considered a 'classic' piece of English Literature (while studying the Bronte sisters for A level Pure English Literature). "You're telling me that it's a classic but on what authority? You're only saying it is because that's what you've been taught too? Is this really a good piece of literature or did someone decide it was and no one questioned it?" Needless to say they didn't appreciate my opinion... wink Personally think it goes back to the Art argument.  We're taught what is 'good' art and what is 'bad' when really we should be encouraged to make up our own minds! 


    One of my favourite quotes is "Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be" which drives me to question everything... smiley


    Lisa

Reply
  • If I had £1 for everytime I've explained to someone why/how we have seasons and why there is such an extreme change in day/night lengths for the UK over the course of a year...! Lets just say I'd be able to afford to go to an equatorial country on holiday where their day lengths don't really change that much (and where it's always summer all year round... wink)


    I agree with you Alasdair Anderson‍, it's ALWAYS a good idea to challenge accepted wisdom and current thinking otherwise we'd never do anything different or create anything new!


    It puts me in mind of an argument I once had with my English tutor when I questioned the perception of what is considered a 'classic' piece of English Literature (while studying the Bronte sisters for A level Pure English Literature). "You're telling me that it's a classic but on what authority? You're only saying it is because that's what you've been taught too? Is this really a good piece of literature or did someone decide it was and no one questioned it?" Needless to say they didn't appreciate my opinion... wink Personally think it goes back to the Art argument.  We're taught what is 'good' art and what is 'bad' when really we should be encouraged to make up our own minds! 


    One of my favourite quotes is "Just because it is, doesn't mean it should be" which drives me to question everything... smiley


    Lisa

Children
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