An example of tautology in historical science writing:
"In my last discourse I began to expliane the diurnall appearances of the sun & the Stars & to shew yu how they were p[er]formed by Nature her selfe represented in the Pythagorean hypothesis…These are of great use especially in eclipses since by them the quantitys of ye parallaxes of the luminary are determined. yet are but very ill represented in the Ptolemaick projections of the sphere but very naturally on this thereby proveing that nature workes the shortest way & that the most ordinary of her p[er]formances shew theire proper effects much more easily then the most ingenuous of humane contrivances can represent them. Hence I thinke too wee may draw one probable systeme. for since Nature workes the readiest way. & this representation of her answers all her appearances the most easily and Naturally tis the most likely to be the very truth it selfe & this its p[er]fect figure."
John Flamsteed (1975) Lecture 16, 25 May 1682 / Lecture 19, Wednesday, 8 November 1682 in The Gresham Lectures of John Flamsteed (Editor: Eric G. Forbes), London: Mansell Information Publishing Ltd.
Falmsteed is teaching his students that one form of projection (Pythagorean) is superior to another (Ptoemaic).
My reading here is that Flamsteed argues
- (i) that Nature is efficient (works the shortest way) because observations 'naturally' fit Flamsteed's preferred model, but then
- (ii) that because Nature is efficient (works the readiest way), the model that represents observations most 'Naturally' [sic], his preferred model, is likely to be reflect the true state of affairs.
If we assume the model is right, then it shows us nature is efficient; and because nature is efficient the matching model must be the correct one.
Read about tautology in science
