How can two credentialed scientists look at the same rock layers and see two different processes?

Question

They are both respectable and highly qualified scientists, and not trying to be deceptive. Is it simply because of what they have been taught to think?

Answer 1

Different ppl have different axioms, assumptions made as a foundation of one's logic. These different axioms mean they interpret evidence differently. By changing your assumptions, you can change your interpretation of the evidence. Often ppl claim that it's a fact that a set of rock layers are millions of years old, bc we've measured the rate they're being laid down, and extrapolated back to get an age. However, they assume that the rate of deposition hasn't changed and that there was no dirt added or removed in the entire period of time. If the rate was faster at one point, it would look older than it really was. If dirt was already there, it would throw off the calculation. Ppl either don't know about these assumptions, or don't tell ppl about them. I think most laymen don't realize the assumptions they're making, they just do it naturally. Scientists, however, probably do. The fact that they don't disclose those assumptions, I think, is a little deceptive, portraying something as fact, when you had to make unproven assumptions to get there.

Answer 2

Different ways of thinking.

The rank and file scientist is schooled, book learned and roted (brainwashed) into seeing things the way their teachers saw them.

Einstein, Hawkings, Darwin, Newton, Plank and others defy the norm and come out with their own ways of seeing things, even if they're controverisial and sometimes even if they are wrong in whole or part.

Einstein and Hakwings both agree you can't look at Cosmology from a strictly Newtonian perspective. You can't bind yourself to the laws of motion and gravity as detailed by Newton.

That's why fundamentalist scientists (the schooled ones) scratch their head and pencil push trying to make the Newtonian math meet the observed actions and it's preplexing to them, so they search for some star or planet not yet found to explain the deviation from the norm. They see it as pure "body" problems.

Einstein sees it and goes, maybe things aren't always Newtonian and comes up with another explaination for deviations from the Norm and then all the scientists have to re-learn physics.

Even Einstein got it wrong sometimes. He once scratched his head because something deviated in his own work and he shrugged it off only to have an explaination made by someone else who showed Einstein why it deviated, and thus Einstein was correct in his math and observations, but wrong in his explainations.

Let's look at what they "think" about Mars based upon camera observations and a few remote soil samples.

This is also why creationists have problems with evolutionists. Science can't decided or changes it's mind based on new thinking or new evidence.

Hence I go through life thinking Pluto is a planet, but now it isn't.

We can't base our lives this way if people keep pulling carpets out from under us!

Let the scientists fight it out and who wins out in the end.

But even then laws are meant to be broken as Einstein broke Newton's laws.

Answer 3

That is what is known as difference of opinion. Everyone sees things differently, and it is not something that you are taught. It is what the eye is seeing, and the brain is translating it into the thought process. That is why when there has been a robbery, there can be such a big difference in the description of the person given to the police.

Answer 4

It really depends on what they're looking at. If it is something considered "common", then they're likely to have the same (or close to same) opinion. If it's something "uncommon", then the chance of differeing opinion grows.

Mostly because of CONCENSUS in the particular area.

Not all scientists think exactly alike. It's the maverick opinion that challenges the status quo and often shows the true path.

Answer 5

How can two linguists read the same sentence and get two different meanings? Our perception is shaped not only by what we've been taught but also by our background, our environment. our experiences, and yes, our biases and prejudices. How can two geologists see a layer of water-laid clay and only one see evidence of a world-wide flood?

Answer 6

You'll find a difference of opinion in every branch of science. Even medicine. Two surgeons will see a patient and diagnose differently.

However, when the VAST majority of surgeons say "gallbladder!" then you go ahead and operate on that sucker. Ditto with your above example.

Answer 7

Ideas come from experience, education, knowledgement, and circumstances. Experience can be previous life carry forward. That is why same born ages and brother living together will have different ideas.

Answer 8

Rock layers hold much more then two different processes as you call them. It depends on what they are looking for.

Answer 9

No, it's because they think differently and aren't willing to be told what to think.

It's these disagreements that cause people to test each other's ideas and for the truth to come out. It's a good thing that scientists don't always agree -- that's the seed of learning.

"I say this." "I agree." "Ah, very well."

Not very educational.

"I say xyz!" "No No NO! abc!" "Well let's try it out..." "Ooooooohhh.... xyc! That's why..."

Answer 10

That is how science works! If everyone saw the same thing we'd still be back in the bronze age.....