Discussion Overview
The discussion centers on the historical understanding of maximum recession speeds in cosmology, particularly the perception that recession speeds could not exceed the speed of light, as noted in Schutz's work. Participants explore the evolution of this consensus and whether it was a topic of debate within the scientific community.
Discussion Character
- Debate/contested
- Historical
Main Points Raised
- Some participants reference Schutz's assertion that recession speeds cannot exceed the speed of light, suggesting a consensus in 1985 that this was an obvious limitation.
- Others argue that Schutz's critique of the Hubble Law reflects a deeper understanding of relativistic effects, indicating that he may not have been as emphatic about the impossibility of superluminal recession speeds.
- A participant notes that Schutz's book is aimed at readers who may not grasp the implications of superluminal speeds, implying a lack of widespread understanding at the time.
- Some mention a paper by Davis and Lineweaver that discusses misconceptions in cosmology, including the idea that recession speeds cannot exceed the speed of light, suggesting that this misconception persisted beyond 1985.
- There is a reference to a lack of sources confirming or contradicting the assumption about the common understanding of recession speeds in the scientific community during that period.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants express differing views on whether there was a consensus in 1985 regarding the maximum recession speed. Some believe it was widely accepted that speeds could not exceed the speed of light, while others challenge this notion and reference ongoing misconceptions that persisted in later years.
Contextual Notes
Participants note the potential limitations in understanding Schutz's statements due to the evolving nature of cosmological theories and the historical context of scientific discussions at the time.