Brian Tung wrote:
Anonymous AtWork wrote:
That's an attractive option, but I don't think it will work in practice.
If there's a substantial body out there--say, Earth-sized--there will be
an almost irresistible inclination to call it a planet, whether by that
time it's the ninth planet, tenth, eleventh, whatever. I don't think
that excluding it on the basis of history will work. Some technical
definition will probably be needed.
Why? Because a "*planetary* geologist" is legally barred from studying
a "large circum-solar body"?

?! I'm not sure how you get that from what I wrote.

My point is, people--not just scientists--like to classify.

You said it would be "needed". Now you just talk about how people "like
to" classify. Which is it--a need or a want?