“What is not possible is not to choose.” (Jean-Paul Sartre)
Consider the following:
- “He made the Sea of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it.” (1 Kings 7:23). See also 2 Chronicles 4:2.
- π is the ratio of the circumference (30 cubits) of a circle and its diameter (10 cubits).
- ∴ π is 3.
Either the bible is literally true, and π is represented as the ratio of the two integers 30 and 10, or π is irrational with a value of around 3.1415926. We recently set up new odometers on our bikes. The manual for the device instructs the user to multiply the diameter of the bike’s wheel by 3.14, yielding the wheel’s circumference. So, for a 700 mm wheel, that’s about 2198 mm for a π of 3.14 and 2199 mm for a π of 3.1415926. But what if π is 3? That circumference becomes 2100 mm.
Now, for say 50 revolutions of the wheel:
- for a circumference of 2.199 meters we have 109.95 meters (if π is 3.1415926);
- for a circumference of 2.198 we have a 109.9 meters (if π is 3.14);
- for a circumference of 2.1, we have 105 meters (if π is 3).
If π is 3, the wheel traverses almost 5 meters less. So is π 3?
Choose
Read more about the π saga than you probably want to in this Gospel of Reason blog entry and follow-up comments.
“It makes sense to revere the sun and stars, for we are their children.” (Carl Sagan)
Consider the following:
- The world was made by God in 6 days (see Genesis), including all living things.
- Massive stars exist for millions of years before exploding as supernovae, the only known means by which elements heavier than iron are created.
- Our bodies contain elements heavier than iron, e.g. iodine.
Either the bible is literally true and the world and us (including heavier-than-iron elements) were really created in 6 days, or the universe really is old.
Choose
“What is not possible is not to choose.” (Jean-Paul Sartre)