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- Sep 27, 2006
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What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? This philosophical paradox predates the 3rd century B.C. when an ancient Chinese tale told of a man who was trying to sell a spear and a shield. When asked how good his spear was, he said that his spear could pierce any shield. Then, when asked how good his shield was, he said that it could defend from all spear attacks. Then one person asked him what would happen if he were to take his spear to strike his shield; the seller could not answer.
The modern telling of that story will be told again on Sunday as the “unstoppable force” of the Saints offense meets the “immovable object” that is the Jets defense. But this analogy hits a scientific snag.
Physics teaches us the fallacy of this paradox. First, there ARE unstoppable forces. For example, gravity. Gravity acts on all bodies that have mass, and in great enough strength, can even stop light. Another example is our wives’ yapping. These, like the Saints offense, cannot be stopped.
But there is no such thing as an immovable object. Physics tells us that no matter how massive or stationary an object, even the slightest force will move it, if only infinitesimally.
Therefore, we can only conclude that because, scientifically, the Jets defense is fallible, and the Saints offense is scientifically infallible, the "paradox" is resolved in favor of the Saints. Win.
The modern telling of that story will be told again on Sunday as the “unstoppable force” of the Saints offense meets the “immovable object” that is the Jets defense. But this analogy hits a scientific snag.
Physics teaches us the fallacy of this paradox. First, there ARE unstoppable forces. For example, gravity. Gravity acts on all bodies that have mass, and in great enough strength, can even stop light. Another example is our wives’ yapping. These, like the Saints offense, cannot be stopped.
But there is no such thing as an immovable object. Physics tells us that no matter how massive or stationary an object, even the slightest force will move it, if only infinitesimally.
Therefore, we can only conclude that because, scientifically, the Jets defense is fallible, and the Saints offense is scientifically infallible, the "paradox" is resolved in favor of the Saints. Win.
lus-un2:
