I still don't understand what the misunderstanding is. How does science really work, such that the scenario in "that alien message" is not plausible?
The model of learning-about-physics I'm getting from "This Alien Message" is like this: 1. The intelligence receives some kind of data. 2. The intelligence wonders what it means, and constructs several theories, which may be far-fetched or complicated. 3. The intelligence receives further data, which supports or rules out various parts of theories. 4. Goto 2 Is your objection that this is unlike the way science works in our civilization? Or that there would not be enough data for the intelligence to consider relativity as a theory?
no subject
The model of learning-about-physics I'm getting from "This Alien Message" is like this:
1. The intelligence receives some kind of data.
2. The intelligence wonders what it means, and constructs several theories, which may be far-fetched or complicated.
3. The intelligence receives further data, which supports or rules out various parts of theories.
4. Goto 2
Is your objection that this is unlike the way science works in our civilization? Or that there would not be enough data for the intelligence to consider relativity as a theory?