2 ms·

No, no, no. Your Earth-centered physics is not wrong. It's perhaps "bad", or "awkward", "clumsy" or "suboptimal", but not wrong. The word wrong should be reserv

by lutorm 16y ago

No, no, no. Your Earth-centered physics is not wrong. It's perhaps "bad", or "awkward", "clumsy" or "suboptimal", but not wrong. The word wrong should be reserved for factually incorrect statements (unless you are discussing morals), otherwise it's been diluted to meaninglessness. It's better. See, you already agree with me. It's not "right", it may be "better" (though I question that fact, too.)

chc 16y ago
"Wrong" can mean "factually incorrect", but it can also mean "poorly suited." For example, outfits do not have a property of factual correctness, but somebody wearing a tux to a semiformal event would be wearing the wrong thing, as would somebody wearing a speedo.
sophacles 16y ago
According to the OED, wrong as an adverb: 5. The fact or position of acting unjustly or indefensibly; 6. Not right or satisfactory in state or order; in unsatisfactory or bad condition; amiss. 7. a. Not adapted, according, or answering to intention, requirement, or purpose; not proper, fitting, or appropriate; unsuitable. Any and all of which, but particularly #7, apply to the use of the term wrong in the tauday site. Pi is [not adapted to purpose, not fitting]. See?
- abeppu 16y ago
  Only because you pulled out the OED did I feel it might be acceptable to point out that in the sentence "Pi is wrong", "wrong" is an adjective, not an adverb. More to the point, in the online OED as I see it, definitions 1 and 2 deal with physical shape, 3 and 4 deal with moral character, and interestingly, my 5) differs from yours, being given as follows : 5. a. Not in conformity with some standard, rule, or principle; deviating from that which is correct or proper; contrary to, at variance with, what one approves or regards as right. b. Not in consonance with facts or truth; incorrect, false, mistaken. c. Of belief, etc.: Partaking of or based on error; erroneous. d. Of a painting: having an erroneous attribution. Given that it's not until we get to 6 and 7 that we find definitions regarding quality of 'state or order' or 'appropriate' and 'suitable', I think readers are quite justified in finding the OP's use of "wrong" to be at least very freely used -- which was, of course, part of the whole point.
jerf 16y ago
If someone teaches or uses Earth-centric physics, I am perfectly comfortable calling that "wrong". They shouldn't do it. They are at the very least incurring opportunity cost and at worst actively harming the student.

by lutorm 16y ago

chc 16y ago

"Wrong" can mean "factually incorrect", but it can also mean "poorly suited." For example, outfits do not have a property of factual correctness, but somebody wearing a tux to a semiformal event would be wearing the wrong thing, as would somebody wearing a speedo.

sophacles 16y ago

According to the OED, wrong as an adverb: 5. The fact or position of acting unjustly or indefensibly; 6. Not right or satisfactory in state or order; in unsatisfactory or bad condition; amiss. 7. a. Not adapted, according, or answering to intention, requirement, or purpose; not proper, fitting, or appropriate; unsuitable. Any and all of which, but particularly #7, apply to the use of the term wrong in the tauday site. Pi is [not adapted to purpose, not fitting]. See?

abeppu 16y ago
Only because you pulled out the OED did I feel it might be acceptable to point out that in the sentence "Pi is wrong", "wrong" is an adjective, not an adverb. More to the point, in the online OED as I see it, definitions 1 and 2 deal with physical shape, 3 and 4 deal with moral character, and interestingly, my 5) differs from yours, being given as follows : 5. a. Not in conformity with some standard, rule, or principle; deviating from that which is correct or proper; contrary to, at variance with, what one approves or regards as right. b. Not in consonance with facts or truth; incorrect, false, mistaken. c. Of belief, etc.: Partaking of or based on error; erroneous. d. Of a painting: having an erroneous attribution. Given that it's not until we get to 6 and 7 that we find definitions regarding quality of 'state or order' or 'appropriate' and 'suitable', I think readers are quite justified in finding the OP's use of "wrong" to be at least very freely used -- which was, of course, part of the whole point.

jerf 16y ago

If someone teaches or uses Earth-centric physics, I am perfectly comfortable calling that "wrong". They shouldn't do it. They are at the very least incurring opportunity cost and at worst actively harming the student.