> which would help reinforce the idea that what we sacrifice as the price of scientific knowledge, is absolute knowledge.
replyI don’t think it is possible to have absolute knowledge of anything. Scientific knowledge is the best (only) thing we have.
I think I knew this deep down, but I am curious if there's "extinct (with the usual disclaimers)" and "extinct (it ain't comin back)". i.e. the Christmas Island Shrew vs. the Dodo
replyMaybe the difference between the Dodo and the Christmas Island Shrew is 350 years.
replyWhich is to say, the certainty of the Dodo's extinction is related to how long we've not seen one.
Every year that passes then without the shrew will be to underscore its extinction, I suppose. Sad.
I have a feeling that it depends to some extent on the organism. It would be hard for a breeding pair of Dodo's to hide for very long, whereas a colony of little shrews could creep around in the bushes without notice. "Last seen on X date" would cover both cases.
replyThis comes to mind: <https://x.com/MNateShyamalan/status/1951252793827729739>
replyIndeed, I continue to feel humbled by the vastness of the natural world.
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