vtsnowedin wrote:The facts are facts and still will be facts in the future.
There will be facts in the future, yes. As soon as it arrives, and instantly becomes the past.
vtsnowedin wrote:What is unknown about the future are events and new discoveries.
Depends. For example, there is a high probability that there will be new discoveries of something like an oil field in the future. But it is not a fact, because the comet that we didn't spot, impacting the earth in 8 minutes from now, will completely erase all traces of humanity on this planet as it splits it into 2 other component parts, and disturb the orbits of both the Earth and Moon enough that within a billion years or so they might leave the Solar System or impact the Sun.
The future is nothing but infinite possibilities..not facts. Goodness, for all we know The Big Rip could happen in 8 minutes, and THEN where would we be?
vtsnowedin wrote: A skilled surgeon is indeed who you want working inside your head but his thoughts about climate change might well be 100% wrong.
Good thing you don't ask brain surgeons about climate change then. Or peak oil.
Plant Thu 27 Jul 2023 "Personally I think the IEA is exactly right when they predict peak oil in the 2020s, especially because it matches my own predictions."
Plant Wed 11 Apr 2007 "I think Deffeyes might have nailed it, and we are just past the overall peak in oil production. (Thanksgiving 2005)"