North and south pole: isn't it arbitrary which is which?

Question

Just an interesting point, but correct me if I'm wrong.

I'm talking about all poles: geographical, magnetic (which there are two of, both based on geographical norths and souths), and celestial (which is inherently geographical-based as well). Therefore, calling one north and calling the other south, to me, seems arbitrary. I wouldn't be surprised if maps in Australia portrayed their country being in the upper hemisphere of the globe, because it really doesn't matter.

Answer 1

On my office wall have a map of the world with the Southern hemisphere on top and the Northern hemisphere on the bottom. All the countries and oceans are labeled to be read from this "topsy-turvey" vantage point. It suggests that our habit of placing the Northern hemisphere on top, while seemingly arbitrary, nonetheless may have occurred by (perhaps unconscious) design.

The "northern" hemisphere is where Europe lies, and where the early map makers with whom we are most familiar lived. In war, and in governing an estate or kingdom, the powerful position is atop a hill. So it would be natural for the European, and then American authorities to assume that they sat atop the globe. The civilizations that inhabited southern Africa, South America, and Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific held less relative powerful, so they had little say in the which pole was depicted as the "top" of the world.

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Answer 2

If you look at the etymology of the word North (leftward) then the north pole is not arbitrary. It is the pole which is on the left hand when facing the direction of the rising sun. It is also defined by the strongest measured magnetic field direction although there is a magnetic north as well as a geographic north pole which are located in slightly different positions. In a nutshell, it is not arbitrary.

Answer 3

Arbitrary from a standpoint of the earth as a sphere, however north pole is being determined from where the magnetic arrow of the compass points, which is the connected with the turning of the planet around the sun, as well as solar system, which is also in constant rotation. Navigation relies on that for directions. By figuring out where is the Polar star, which is one of the stars in the Big Dipper oncstellations you can find which way is North, and how many degrees from your set path you are off.

Answer 4

ARE YOU TALKING OF THE MAGMETIC OR GEOGRAPHICAL POLES.THE MAGNETIC POLES ARE DEFINED BY THE GEOGRAPHICAL ONES, THEPOLE OF A SUSPRNDADMAGNET AT RESTWHICH POINTS TO GEOGRAPHICAL NORTH IS CALLED NORTH POLE OF THE MAGNETAND VICE VERSA.
PERHAPS THE GEOGRAPHICAL NORTH AND SOUTH WERE DEFINED ARBITRARILY WITHRESPECT TO EASTWHICH IS THE DIRECTION WHERE THE SUN RISES IN THE MORNING.OR IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEFINED IN RELATION TO THE POSITION OF A CERTAIN STAR(I DONOT KNOW THE NAME OF THE STAR) AT NIGHT.

Answer 5

I assume north and south pole can be swapped but the internationally agreed north and south poles are where we know it. =p

Answer 6

just think about it for a while! if you go north where do you get to, or the same if you go south ,try and work it out