Experience with the public after the discoveries of Quaoar and Sedna, however, has slowly taught me not to ignore the importance of culture. Those in favor of absolute scientific consistency regardless of cultural beliefs (which, until recently, included me) should also argue that Madagascar, an island sitting on an isolated block of continental
crust in the Indian Ocean, should be called a separate continent. Though their arguments would be scientifically sound, they would not get very far, even with geologists. Likewise it has become apparent in the past few years that the extent of education and media makes it unlikely that the idea of Pluto as a true planet will ever be abandoned. One can argue with culture forever and, apparently, get nowhere. I thus finally concede: Pluto is a planet because we say it is and for no other reason. If need be, we can give Pluto an adjective and call it an “historical planet.” All new Solar System objects bigger than Pluto join the planet club by default. 2003 UB313, a little larger than Pluto and spectrally similar, is a planet. 2005 FY9, a little smaller than Pluto but spectrally similar, is not.\ This one hundred percent cultural definition requires scientists to relinquish their desire to legislate a new and rigorous meaning to the Solar System sense of the word “planet” and accept the meanings that culture has been using all along.
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