Is it true that there is no way of proving that the earth goes around the sun?

Question

Is it true that the only reason Copernicus is preferred to Ptolemy (i.e. the heliocentric theory over the geocentric) is that it makes the math a lot simpler? Is there any empirical proof that the earth goes around the sun, apart from Ockham's razor? (I.e. the simplest explanation, accounting for the relevant facts, is the preferred one.)

Well, there is empirical proof that the earth isn't flat. You can see a ship disappear and reappear over the horizon, for example. I asked this question in the science section as well and got some interesting answers. I've also filled in the rationale, i.e. on the difference between fact and theory. BTW I am neither a Creationist nor a geocentrist, just someone interested in asking questions to clarify things for myself.

No, I'm not a conspiracy theorist either. And if you went up in a spaceship, wouldn't the perception of the earth orbiting the sun depend on your preconceived mindset? Wouldn't it be just as easy to conclude that the sun was orbiting the earth?

I posted the same question on philosophy and science. The replies on science were, for the most part, polite and thoughtful. The replies on philosophy are...below. I don't know what this says, if anything.

I would have thought that the basic issue--the difference between a fact and a theory--was of some passing interest to anyone interested in philosophy.

Answer 1

There are mathematical proofs that prove the earths orbit is an ellipse. Not only that, we have seen the Earth from space and know it moves around the sun.

Answer 2

Wow... I thought we were past that by the 1800's. You can tell that the earth is orbitting the sun from space fairly easilly by just looking out the window. The way Copernicus found out is that he noticed that, from different areas of the earth, and at different times of the year, the sun would be at different points of the sky that it would have been at, let's say a month before-hand. When he "did the math" the only way that could make sense at all is that the earth apparently orbited the sun. Now, why don't we try and prove the earth isn't flat.

Answer 3

Are going for some paranoid conspiracy theory?
It is true that Copernicus did not have empirical proof for his theory, there were no telescopes at that time. The first to provide proofs was Galileo in 1610.
Today if you have enough money you can be a space tourist and just see it from the window.

Answer 4

The question is a reductionist viewpoint of the universe. The Earth can be demonstrated to revolve around the sun, however, this is only one aspect to a much larger picture of movement in the solar system. The Sun (and Earth) is also in a revolution pattern within the Milky Way.

What revolves around what is a question of perspective.

Answer 5

No, which could not real. the major reason human beings on the time might want to not instruct Copernicus perfect develop into that they could not degree stellar parallax. all the scientists knew Earth orbiting the solar might want to reason a parallax, yet none develop into considered. it really is because the celebs are a lot farther away than absolutely everyone predicted, so the parallax develop into too small to degree with the telescopes available on the time. cutting-edge telescopes can degree the parallax really. it really is really the time-honored approach we use to degree the area to the celebs. the different reason Copernicus' theory develop into not as we communicate commonplace develop into that it did not clarify the motions on the planets as considered contained in the sky any extra efficient than Ptolemy, because he assumed all the planets orbited in circles. this mistake develop into corrected through Kepler who confirmed the planets orbit in elliptical orbits.

Answer 6

I guess the earth is still "FLAT"

people fall off the edge daily.


whats the point.


guess we can explain lunar eclipses

sun spots solar flares

and if men landed on the moon at all

Answer 7

NASA and the ESA have irrefutable proof, and we have seen the images captured from their endeavors. Unless, of course you challenge that; but, soon enough Virgin Galactic will be offering flights to space, for your personal experience and fact gathering.