Gevorg Zigzabian
Doubt thou the stars are fire,
Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar (...)
William Shakespeare, Hamlet
In science a theory is valid as long as there is no evidence to dispute it. Once that evidence is found the theory dies, it ceases to be considered scientific knowledge and becomes part of history. A dead theory may however survive in other areas of knowledge and continue to exercise its influence on our perception of the surrounding world as well as our behaviour. In some cases this arouses a deep conflict, as already occurred several times between science and religion. One of the best examples is given by the dispute which took place during the 16th and 17th centuries, between the geocentric and the heliocentric theories of the universe. From the scientific point of view the dispute was resolved in favour of the latter theory, nevertheless, in everyday life, it is the geocentric point of view which dominates our way of thought. Few of us will consider with interest the birth of a supernova, whereas all shall become concerned if told that our planet may be hit by an asteroid. Our concern for survival places the earth at the centre of the universe, just as it used to be illustrated by the Ptolemaic system.
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