Turtles All the Way Down
Quite possibly the greatest book ever written on the subject of turtle stacking.
— Lisa Simpson on Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss
A well-known scientist — Bertrand Russell, in one version of the story — was giving a public lecture on astronomy. He described how the earth orbits around the sun, which, in turn, orbits around the center of the Milky Way, one of billions of galaxies. At the end of the lecture, an old lady at the back of the room stood up and said, “You’re completely wrong, young man. The Earth is flat and is supported on the back of a giant turtle.” The astronomer was taken aback, but stepping gamely up to the plate, responded, “I understand, Madam, but can you tell me what the turtle is standing on?” “Another turtle, of course.” Taking a deep breath, he started to say, “Well yes, but …”
“It’s no good, Sonny,” she interrupted. “It’s turtles all the way down!”
The “Turtle Problem” is routinely used as a shorthand phrase for the philosophical notion of “infinite regression.” The idea is that a solution which depends on a never-ending series of similar steps is no solution at all. Take, for instance, the policing problem. To keep the police honest, you need someone to police them, the police-police. But to keep them honest, you need the police-police-police … ad infinitum.
Then there’s the so-called Intelligent Design approach to creation, which claims that a complicated world couldn’t have happened on its own, that it needed a designer, usually referred to as “God.” Since God must be at least as complicated as her/his creation, then God also has a creator, God’s God. Who in turn would have been created by … and we’re back with the Turtle Problem.
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Today
Winter Classic Table Tennis Tournament
sports / 11:30 a.m. Arcata Community Center, 321 Community Parkway. Compete in 12 and under, beginners, intermediate, advanced or seniors groupings. Prizes for winners. $10/$5 kids 12 and under. 601-5447.
Audubon Society Field Trip
outdoors / 9 a.m. Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge, 1020 Ranch Road, Loleta. Meet at Refuge Visitor Center off Hookton Road. Leisurely, two- to three-hour trip intended for people wanting to learn birds of Humboldt Bay area. 822-3613.
Open Celtic Music Session
music / 3 p.m. Cafe Veritas/Mosgo's, 180 Westwood Center, Arcata. Informal monthly gathering of musicians playing Irish and other Celtic music. Hosted by Seabury Gould. seaburygould.com. 845-8167.
Nonviolence Action Camp
etc. / 10 a.m. Chinmaya Mission near Piercy. Weekend-long direct action orientation features workshops, role playing, seminars, ceremonies and field trips. Bring food, bedding, warm clothes, signs, banners, bikes, drums, acoustic instruments. Pre-register. saverichardsongrove.org. 932-5898.
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