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Of course this all fails if we are communicating with an intelligent beingof
who somehow lives in a very different physical universe than we live in...
but that is not our assumption.
I am not sure how astronomy is different from beta decay in terms
defining handedness? In both cases we are agreeing on aspecific object,
and a specific vantage point.
is defined by the asymmetry in the angular distribution of the beta
emissions... then we can tie that orientation to the spin of the nucleus for
the handedness discussion. Likewise, spinning or revolving astronomical
objects have specific angular momentums. If that is true, then don't we
just have to agree upon a common vantage point from which both observers
view these?
Also, since the "intelligent being" discussion is hypothetical,it's not
clear to me how this discussion is taking place. If we are having theI am adopting Morrison's point of view that we are
discussion face to face, we can point to things.
face, how far apart are we? Are we communicating by E&M waves? If so,
doesn't our path of communication define a "line," and whether I am
transmitting or he/she/it is transmitting define directions along that line?
And can't we reference viewpoints to that line? (Note: I put line in
quotations to acknowledge some would not necessarily consider it to fall in
the simple realm of a "straight line." But I don't think that matters for
the point I am trying to make.)