Pluto Classification Research Paper

Classifying items into categories has been a key component of society for years. Objects or subjects that have been classified generally allow easier communication and can get a complex point across in a much simpler matter. Classification, however, is a double-edged sword. The different opinions that every person is entitled to means that some classifications will be disagreed with. How could you change the the way something is classified if you disagreed with it? The truth is you most likely cannot. Sadly, small groups of powerful people choose how the world we live in is classified. The negatives of categorization seems to be a heavy price to pay for the few benefits we receive. Classification not only causes many problems, such as the formation
In “The Pluto Files”, Neil Degrasse Tyson investigates Pluto’s current planetary status. Pluto was found to be much smaller in size than the rest of the planets, so much so that a conference was held with top scientists to debate if Pluto even qualified as a planet. One side of the public wanted Pluto to just “stay a planet”, as if calling it a planet still will change the fact that it’s not the same size and doesn’t have the same properties. Most others didn’t care. In “When Is a Planet not a Planet” by Freedman, Brian Marsden says "Pluto has been a longstanding myth that's difficult to kill,". While it did put up a fight, Pluto ended up being classified as a “dwarf planet”, which are actually being payed attention to now that Pluto is considered one. Even if everyone wanted Pluto to stay a planet, we have to classify it in a non-biased way based on a consensus of “what is a planet”, and unfortunately Pluto does not make the cut. The public opinion shouldn’t sway this case of classification as much as it did, as it needs to be supported by data and scientific facts, not mass support. If what we previously thought was right turns out to be wrong, we cannot just pretend like we never found out it was wrong. Sometimes changes must be made to what we know as we learn more, and lots of the time people aren’t ready for that change. Lying about Pluto or refusing to reclassify it won’t change the reality. Scientific classification needs to follow an agreed upon consensus, must be unbiased and truthful in what is reported, and cannot be released or changed to please the