The Increasing Likelihood of Flying Teapots

When Bertrand Russell formulated his famous flying teapot analogy, he deliberately chose a very British object, one that nevertheless would have looked very awkward if it were ever observed to be revolving in an orbit around the sun, the Earth, or around any celestial body.

The flying teapot analogy was often referred to by atheist thinkers as a rightful argument against religious dogmatism. I myself being a religious person, I nevertheless fully concur with Russell’s viewpoint. The flying teapot analogy is not only well found and funny, it rightfully lays the burden of proof to the one making an unfalsifiable statement. Saint Thomas was right to question his friends’ statements, which remain unfalsifiable to us. I however disagree with some atheist thinkers that religious adherence requires rational proof of the related beliefs. I agree with atheist thinkers that religions should not disdain non-believers.

Climate change deniers believe climate activists believe in flying teapots, but climate change is falsifiable science, it is not a belief. The existence of climate change deniers can't be denied though.

With the shifting thin grey line between the feasible and the unfeasible, it looks like Russell’s analogy becomes more likely in time. We can already send teapots in an orbit around the Earth, and our telescopes could then see them flying. Sending over a few dozens could be done at reasonable cost, say $500 to $1000 per teapot. A teapot constellation would make a nice student project and I’m sure the funding question will come up soon. The Kessler syndrome, ending in clouds of pieces of porcelain in space, could be the end to this very British dream.

I refer to my blogs “Belief Creates the Actual Fact” and to “What Satellites Can Do For You”.

Picture Patricia Deneffe ©2024