ovyyus wrote:Believing without understanding is not science. Little wonder you don't like the scientific method.
Ovyyus - you seem to have a problem with this word "believe". Faith or Belief are commonly misunderstood words. For some people (usually those who have a 100% Faith & Belief in "Science"), other people's Faith or Belief (that differ from their own) are evidence of people being suckered into impossible stupid deceptions that aren't based on facts or reality.
Very few people - even the deeply religious - genuinely have faith in things for no good reason. Just because you can't see the reason, doesn't mean they don't have good reason or logic for their belief.
Some of the most reasonable/logical/scientific brains have believed in the existance of God. When you ponder the deepest issues of life & the universe, practically any theory seems far out and unreasonable. The concept of omnipresent, omnicscient, omnipotent Mind being responsible for all observed effects is an extremely valid point of view that is worthy of consideration. It's extremely naive, small-minded & illogical to rule it out without some serious thought about the realistic alternatives.
But I digress. I didn't mean to dig that deep. Just to challenge you negative association with the word "Belief".
Humans can't stop believing. When they say they "don't believe" something, they are really saying that they beleive something else. And that belief can be challenged by anyone who chooses to challenge it.
Most of us are products of conditioning. A lie told often enough becomes truth (Lennon or Goebbels - who really knows, because the principles of deception are as old as mankind).
Science is deeply rooted in belief. You can't deny it. It is no better or worse than religion in that regard. It's just humans doing what human do - for better or worse. Sometimes a scientist gets things right, sometimes religion gets things right. If the punters are happy, and not hurting anyone else, who is to define what is "right" anyway?
But getting back to Bessler wheel building.
Currently "science" believes that PM is 100% impossible. This negative belief kills all serious research into the possibility, leaving it to the nutters.
A negative belief - or a belief that something is impossible - is still a belief. And it becomes reality for the believer.
In order to build a running Bessler wheel, Bessler wheel had to first believe that it was possible. A modern education would have killed off that belief, Bessler would have not even dared to dream, and this would have reinforced the validity of this particular belief.
Ovyyus - seriously, you need to accept that "belief" is:
A/ not optional - we all believe something and
B/ what we choose to belief can and does affect reality
Belief can open doors, or close them.
Belief can be the problem, or the solution.
A correct understanding of the power of Faith or Belief is not something that only feeble minded dimwits can fall for. It is a powerful tool for people with imagination. A scary powerful tool that can be abused by bad people too.